The dark blanketed sky was very peaceful tonight. The moon hung in the sky so brightly with the stars that seemed to be accompanying it. Underneath this beautiful night sky stood a woman in her early 20s.
She was leaning against the balcony lazily with a cigarette in between her hands. The white leather dress clung to her skin tightly accentuating her hourglass body. Her long legs looked smooth and attractive enough to entice any men. When her silky long black hair was being blown away by the wind, the small tattoo engraved on her neck could be immediately seen.
"Miss, weâve started ruffling their feathers as planned." A man in a humble voice reported behind the woman.
The figure on the balcony did not move or utter any word as if she never cared at all. She continued smoking her cigarette while her downturned eyes looked unconcerned at all.
"The Xiu family are now on high alert with almost all their security deployed 24/7. The men we planted are now laying low but they will return to their posts in a few days."
The room was filled again with silence. The mysterious woman brought the cigarette back to her mouth but paused when she saw that she was almost running out. Her gaze stayed on that shortened stick while finally opening her mouth.
"What about that bitch?" Her statement was laced with hostility most especially when she mentioned the word âbitchâ.
"Sheâs recovering pretty fast under the watch of the CEO of Lu Corporation."
"Heh... sheâs still pretty lucky ah? Having the Chief of the First Ranking Legion in the underworld." The woman nonchalantly remarked as if that information did not bother her at all. It even sounded like she was expecting it to happen.
"Isnât that even better? My master would be very delighted if he knows that our enemy our now teaming up against us." After throwing away the finished butt of cigarette on the ashtray, she finally turned towards her right-hand man that was standing rigidly in front of her.
Her gaze immediately sharpened and grew cold as soon as she laid her eyes on him. "Prepare for your second visit. I want that bitch to grow crazy in anxiety trying to find out who is behind all the accidents Iâve been creating."
"Wonât it be boring if the prey is being kept sheltered, isnât it? What I want is to hear her cries and begging, just like how my sister suffered on that night." She uttered that as if she was speaking a pledge filled with venom. A promise that it will bring the nightmare to its target, and that she wonât stop unless that personâs on the ground crawling and begging for forgiveness.
Morning.
Xiu Mei uncomfortably shifted in her bed as soon as she woke up. The hard pillow she was leaning on was making her head feel pain so, under the comforter, she stretched her hands out and blindly looked for a soft pillow on her bed.
She caught the air instead, finally realizing that she was laying almost at the edge of her bed. Before she could even take back her hand, she finally heard a voice behind her.
"Woke up?"
She almost jumped in surprise after hearing that deep and husky morning voice. Her eyes immediately flew open and the first thing she saw was the arm her head was currently laying on. She sat up and looked behind her where she immediately saw Lu Chenâs face that still looked sleepy.
The events from last night slowly dawned on her then she gasped.
Oh my god, did she really ask him to sleep with him last night?!
"Goodmorning, wife." Lu Chen sat up and greeted her. He even pulled her in a quick hug after greeting her before finally climbing off her bed.
"G-Goodmorning..." She stammered while greeting back feeling a blush crawling on her cheeks.
Wow, she was really slowly becoming shameless ah. Daring to ask a man to stay with her during the night is a really bold move. If she continues at this pace, she won��t even be surprised if Lu Chen suddenly decides to eat her.
The three of them finally started their day. After having a quick call with her Dad first thing in the morning, she finally started her morning routine like washing and changing out of her pajamas.
They took their breakfast quickly and left the hotel to spend the little time they have before they have to run back to the airport for their flight. The day passed by quickly and by night time, the three of them are back in their home.
"Should we just grab some takeout?" Xu Mei suggested after seeing the house look so empty. Aside from the securities stationed around the house, they gave their employees two days off since they werenât in the house anyway.
They had some pizza for dinner. Quickly after that, Lu Qiang immediately fell asleep from exhaustion while they were watching the television. The couple giggled at the sight before Lu Chen carried him back to his room.
Xiu Mei stayed in the living room busily changing the movie they were going to watch. She was munching on some ch.i.p.s when Lu Chen returned to his seat beside her.
"Arenât you gonna sleep?" She tilted her head a little bit to his side without removing her eyes on the television.
"And you? Youâre still recovering and youâre up this late."
"Iâm not a child."
"But youâre a patient."
"Youâre overreacting. I feel very fine already."
Sheâll have her check-up again with Dr.Tang tomorrow but she was pretty confident that sheâll be cleared very soon as a healthy person again.
"Iâm just being careful. Youâre always getting injured even by just standing."
Xiu Mei slapped his chest as she roared.
"Hey, are you saying that Iâm too unlucky?"
"That could also work. I was gonna say youâre too oblivious of your surrounding."
"Youâre scolding me as if it was all my fault."
"I just want you to be careful." He pinched her cheek while continuing his words, "You know people are targeting you, but you always want to go out and play as if itâs safe."
"Itâs because..." Xui Mei bit her lip as she thought about something. She reached for the remote and paused the movie she was watching so she could face Lu Chen.
"Itâs because Iâm very tired of being kept away ah."
Xiu Mei turned gloomy when she remembered her teenage years.
"Maybe because my family kept me in tight security for almost three years so I desire freedom so much right now."
"..."
Lu Chen fell silent when she said that. He suddenly thought if she was feeling uncomfortable with how much he was restricting her right now. He didnât allow her to go anywhere yet since sheâs still recovering and now that someone is really targeting the Xiu family, he didnât want her to go out that much either.
"I really didnât want to tell you this but I know it might get worst if I keep it a secret." She looked straight into his eyes and became honest.
"You know about the note right? I faintly remember seeing you before I passed out back in the hospital."
Lu Chen nodded. "I do. What about it?"
"That day in the hospital, before I lost my senses, I saw a man. The kid who gave the note to me said that it was that man who gave it to her."
"!"
Lu Chenâs heart jumped in surprise after hearing that.
âXiu Mei met the rat in the hospital?! So it wasnât just the note that she saw?â is what ran through his mind.
He already knew that a rat visited Xiu Mei in the hospital since he also heard the account of it from the little girl after asking her for a few questions about the note she gave to Xiu Mei. The person was caught on camera but they couldnât see his face.
"Do you think that person would stop bothering my family if I die?" Xiu Mei carelessly blurted out that made Lu Chen panic.
He grabbed her by the shoulder to make her face him while his face darkened.
"Xiu Mei, donât you dare do something so reckless."
He didnât like one bit of what Xiu Mei uttered just now. She was insinuating that she was considering the idea of killing herself if it meant that person would leave her family alone.
"But what if he starts targeting our family next? When I heard about someone attacking Dad last night, I... I thought that one day, that person might target you or Lu Qiang next."
She knew that Lu Chen would definitely protect her and Lu Qiang but after thinking that she might be the reason why her family is currently being surrounded by some accidents, she feared that it might be Lu Chen or Lu Qiangâs turn next.
She was blaming herself. If she died along with Ying Yue at that time, would this have happened?