Xia Yan looked at Ke Yaru blocking her path, eyeing her suspiciously. "What are you doing?"
"I'm just wondering, Xia Yan, aren't you the least bit curious why I can come and go freely here? And why Zhengting never stops me? After all, Auntie still likes me." Ke Yaru crossed her arms, looking down at Xia Yan with an air of superiority, speaking in the calmest tone with the most dismissive words. In front of Xia Yan, she always felt she was a cut above.
Xia Yan understood this well. She glanced indifferently at the haughty Ke Yaru. "So what?"
"So you should know your place. Don't act so righteous when you're just someone's third wheel."
"Then wait until I actually become that third wheel before you say that. Isn't it a bit premature to talk about this now?" Xia Yan wasn't one for many words, but she knew it wasn't about quantity—it was about precision, about striking the enemy where it hurt.
Ke Yaru couldn't quite believe the Xia Yan standing before her. "Then let me tell you plainly—I am Xiaohan's mother."
"..." Hearing this, Xia Yan was completely stunned.
Ke Yaru was Xiaohan's mother? But why, why was Lu Zhengting so cold toward her?
"Aren't you curious why Zhengting never tells outsiders that I'm Xiaohan's mother? Or why, even though he's cold to me, he's not as indifferent as he is to other women?" Ke Yaru narrowed her eyes, stepped forward, leaned in close to Xia Yan, and deliberately lowered her voice. "Because I was the one who left him first. That's always been a thorn in his heart. It's only natural he hasn't forgiven me yet. I won't blame him. But I believe he'll forgive me one day. After all, I'm Xiaohan's biological mother. Don't you think?"
"You think I'd believe you?"
"You can certainly choose not to believe me. I'm just kindly warning you now to save you from embarrassment later."
"Is that so? I believe Lu Zhengting will tell me the real answer. No need to trouble yourself."
"Xia Yan, you're the first person I've met like this."
"Likewise, you're the first I've met like this too. We have nothing in common to talk about." Xia Yan glanced at Ke Yaru's smiling face, her heart pounding like a drum. She told herself not to believe Ke Yaru's words, but the facts were undeniable. She had seen how Lu Zhengting treated Ke Yaru. From the perspective of Lu Zhengting's girlfriend, she understood it well, and she was suspicious.
In the study.
Bright lights illuminated the spacious room. Lu Zhengting sat in a black leather chair, looking slightly chilled in the cool weather. He had changed into loungewear, his deep eyes fixed on the documents displayed on the desk. The information was laid out clearly, with the name "Ke Yaru" glaringly obvious in his line of sight. A small window suddenly popped up at the bottom of the computer screen.
Lu Zhengting squinted, clicking on the video call from Ning Xi.
"Ting ge, you finally got in touch with me? Did you get the files I sent you?" Ning Xi's handsome face appeared on the screen, a gold-rimmed round glasses perched on his nose. He wore a white shirt, his slightly brown, wavy hair a bit messy, with two buttons of his collar undone, revealing a hint of his sexy collarbone.
"Where did you get this information?"
"That's a bit complicated. By chance, I hacked into their system. Guess what I found?"
"Get to the point!"
"Don't be so impatient." Ning Xi's playful nature kicked in, making him drag things out. This habit had gotten him beaten up by the other three a few times, but it hadn't changed him at all.
Before Ning Xi could finish, the video suddenly went black. He knew Lu Zhengting had no patience, not even giving him this much time. After all the trouble he'd gone to in Jiangcheng to investigate for him, it was truly heartbreaking.
Lu Zhengting stared intently at the name "Ke Yaru" linked with "Yang Jinkuan," his eyes narrowing into slits. Lost in thought for a long time, he suddenly heard a knock at the door. Casually, he switched the interface on the mouse, then said in a deep voice, "Come in."
Ke Yaru smiled as she entered the study, carrying a glass of warm milk. She set it on the desk nonchalantly, gazing affectionately at the expressionless Lu Zhengting. Seeing his furrowed brows, she pondered silently before speaking softly, "Zhengting, did something upset you?"
Lu Zhengting glanced at Ke Yaru. "Yaru, I have a question. Can you answer it for me?"
Ke Yaru smiled warmly and brightly. "Of course, if I know, I'll tell you."
"What's your relationship with Yang Jinkuan?"
Hearing this, Ke Yaru froze, never expecting Lu Zhengting to ask about Yang Jinkuan. Suppressing her inner tension and anxiety, she asked calmly, "Zhengting, why are you suddenly asking about my relationship with him?"
"Do you know him?"
"Of course not. The first time I met President Yang was over the acquisition of Fangneng Company, wasn't it? Did something else happen?"
Lu Zhengting hummed in response, not explaining why he asked. He furrowed his brow, glanced at Ke Yaru, and said nothing.
Ke Yaru felt uncomfortable under his gaze. To avoid more questions, she thought for a moment and said softly, "Zhengting, the milk is best drunk while it's hot. I'll head back to my room now."
Without waiting for Lu Zhengting to respond, Ke Yaru hurried away. She quickly returned to her room, locked the door, and sat on the bed, replaying Lu Zhengting's question in her mind. Why had he suddenly asked about her relationship with Yang Jinkuan? Did he know?
The more she thought, the more worried she became. She picked up her phone from the nightstand, found a number she had long forgotten, and stared at it, hesitating. She dialed and hung up repeatedly.
Until her phone rang. Ke Yaru stared at the flashing screen, stunned. The caller seemed persistent, calling again and again.
"You finally contacted me."
The moment the call connected, Ke Yaru heard the voice on the other end and nearly dropped the phone. A gust of wind outside made her shiver, and she stayed silent for a long time.
"Ruru, where are you now?"
Hearing "Ruru," Ke Yaru couldn't speak. That name was only used by her sister. But the voice on the phone was rough and weary. She glanced at the caller ID and knew it wasn't her sister. Taking a deep breath, she asked calmly, "Has our relationship been exposed?"
"Ruru, what's happening on your end?"
"Don't call me that. If it weren't for you back then, my sister wouldn't have..." Ke Yaru snapped, then paused, suppressing her anger and grief. "You know I don't want anything to do with you. You've already ruined my sister's happiness. Are you going to ruin mine now?"
Yang Jinkuan stared blankly at the dark phone screen, Ke Yaru's last words echoing in his ears: "You've already ruined my sister's happiness. Are you going to ruin mine now?"
The night was eerily quiet. Yang Jinkuan stood by the window, smoking, suddenly recalling events from years ago. Everything had changed. Qinglan... he murmured the unfamiliar yet familiar name. The past faded like the wind, but after tonight's call, it felt especially poignant.
The cigarette in his hand burned out. He pulled his clothes tighter, walked back to the bedside, and his gaze fell on a framed photo on the nightstand. In it, a girl in a white gauze dress smiled faintly and sweetly, standing next to a tall boy in a white T-shirt, his features delicate. They looked young, around eighteen or nineteen...
Yang Jinkuan stared at the girl in the photo, then touched his now prominent belly and glanced at his lazy figure. Those two seemed forever frozen in that moment, in the photo...
He set aside his sorrow and thought carefully about Ke Yaru's words. Was someone investigating their relationship? Back when Qinglan was alive, he had cut ties with them to protect them. Later, when he had his own power, he immediately sealed off his past. It had been five or six years. Now, for someone to dig it up out of nowhere, he had only one suspicion: Lu Zhengting's people.
******
In the vast Lu residence, Xia Yan wasn't the only one unable to sleep in the dark. Ke Yaru was too. Both tossed and turned uneasily through the night, unable to rest.
Xia Yan turned off all the lights in her room, blocking out any trace of light. She curled up like a baby on the bed, opening her eyes to pitch black, closing them to the same. Her mind was in turmoil, all because of Ke Yaru's words tonight.
Lu Zhengting returned to Xia Yan's room very late. Since Xia Yan had moved in, he had essentially relocated there too, sharing the space with her. He quietly opened the door to find the room pitch black, unable to see his hand in front of him. He thought about turning on the light but remembered Xia Yan was probably fast asleep—she woke up at the slightest sound. He hesitated, then groped his way through the dark to the bed.
Xia Yan knew Lu Zhengting had arrived but didn't understand why he hadn't turned on the light. She pretended to sleep, her eyes half-closed, until she felt his hand lift the blanket and his tall frame lie down beside her, creating a noticeable dip in the mattress.
Lu Zhengting felt Xia Yan's sleeping position and couldn't help but smile, a doting expression on his face. In the darkness, his eyes, bright as stars, fixed on Xia Yan's closed lids. Gently, he pulled her into his arms.