Ke Yaru booked the presidential suite for Lu Zhengting as usual. She sat on the sofa in the living room, with Secretary Zhou on her left and several senior company executives who had attended the meeting on her right. She lifted her gaze slightly to look at Lu Zhengting standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, sensing something different about him from his silhouette—something like longing...
Lu Zhengting stood upright, unaware that at this moment, he adorned someone else's dream. The sky outside had gradually darkened, and the clouds on the horizon seemed to burn with layers of twilight, painting the entire sky red. He raised his hand to check the time. Xia Yan must be asleep by now. With that thought, the idea that had just sprouted was instantly nipped in the bud.
"Are all the materials ready?"
"Mr. Lu, we're still preparing the final document."
"Mm. Any thoughts on the European market?"
Upon hearing this, those present shook their heads, confident about Lu Corporation's upcoming entry into the European market.
Lu Zhengting nodded, pondered for a moment, then dismissed them. Finally, he glanced at Ke Yaru, who was reluctant to leave, and asked flatly, "Something else?"
"Zhengting, everything is in order. It's still early. How about a drink downstairs?"
Lu Zhengting thought it over and didn't refuse.
******
Jiangcheng, Xia Family.
Cao Lanzhi's death was inevitable for the Xia family, but sudden for everyone else. The Xia family held a memorial service for Cao Lanzhi. Xia Yan and Xia Siyue, dressed in mourning clothes, stood at the entrance to greet every attendee. Even now, Xia Yan still couldn't bring herself to believe the reality before her, but seeing the heaviness on everyone's faces made it hard for her to breathe.
Xia Yan stopped crying, because the person who loved her most was gone. By the end, she had grown numb, like a wooden puppet standing at the door, silently greeting everyone.
Ye Yunchen took a taxi straight to the Xia family as soon as he got off the plane. Dressed in a black suit and carrying a suitcase, he stood under a tree in the yard outside the Xia home, staring intently at Xia Yan's gaunt figure as she kept bowing to others. He strode over to her with his luggage, and just as she was about to bow, he set down his suitcase and reached out to take her hand.
"Brother Ye?" Xia Yan looked up dazedly, her swollen red eyes fixed on Ye Yunchen.
"Xia Yan, are you okay?"
"Brother Ye, weren't you supposed to come back a few days later?" Xia Yan felt her lips moving, but it was as if she didn't know what she was saying.
Seeing this, Ye Yunchen couldn't help but gently pull her into his arms, his thick palm softly stroking her back as he whispered, "Yan Yan, I'll always be here with you."
Xia Yan buried her face in his chest, nodding stiffly like a broken puppet. She lifted her head from his embrace, expressionless, and pointed, "Go on in."
The attendees were mostly business associates of the Xia family. Lin Xujia arrived a bit late. Seeing Xia Yan like this, she could only offer silent company, unsure of what else to do.
Then came Yang Jinkuan's arrival. Xia Siyue had already slipped away the moment she saw Yang Jinkuan, leaving Xia Yan to face him alone.
Xia Yan seemed fearless now, as if impervious to harm. When she first saw Yang Jinkuan, she showed no fear, only calm composure. Yang Jinkuan, fingering the beads on his wrist, walked up to Xia Yan and reached out to touch her, but she dodged him instantly.
"You look like this, and it really breaks my heart."
"Mr. Yang, please show some respect!"
"Respect? Hahaha..." Yang Jinkuan laughed mockingly at Xia Yan's expressionless face, then paused and added, "Today is the final deadline. You should know why I'm here."
Xia Yan stared steadily at Yang Jinkuan. Xia Minghui rushed out the moment he sensed the commotion outside. Seeing Xia Yan and Yang Jinkuan at odds, his heart trembled. The Xia family was no longer as prosperous as before—if he didn't handle Yang Jinkuan properly this time, the family's survival or destruction would hinge on the latter.
Xia Minghui stopped Xia Yan, rubbing his hands together as he approached Yang Jinkuan. Whatever he said to him, Xia Yan didn't care to know. She turned and walked away. Ye Yunchen, watching her from the crowd, quickly let go of Lin Xujia's hand on his arm and headed straight for Xia Yan.
Seeing this, the sympathy Lin Xujia had just felt for Xia Yan shattered in an instant, replaced by a rising hatred. As long as Xia Yan was around, there would never be room for her in Ye Yunchen's sight—or in his heart.
The memorial service lasted only two days. Ye Yunchen quietly stayed by Xia Yan's side the entire time. These past few days, Xia Yan had moved back to the Xia home. She lay in bed, eyes vacant, expression dull, her eyes bloodshot. She blinked, hearing a knock at the door—it was the maid's voice.
Xia Minghui wanted her in the study. Xia Yan thought about refusing, but remembering her mother's will, she forced herself to go.
In the study, Xia Yan stood before the desk for a long time, but Xia Minghui didn't speak. Finally, losing patience, she asked, "Father, why did you call me to the study?"
"Yan Yan, about what Lanzhi left you—could you give half to Yueyue? You know Yueyue, she's a bit stubborn."
"Father, I'm still firm on this. You want me to give in? Why not ask her to? Just because she's stubborn, do I have to accommodate her?" Xia Yan said heatedly. Before Xia Minghui could respond, she added, "My mother just passed away. I don't want to make her unhappy by mishandling this."
Xia Minghui's face darkened. Though Xia Yan wasn't his biological daughter, he had watched her grow up. He had never seen her so aggressive before, and it startled him. Even more unsettling was the shadow of Xu Guang he saw in her. He lowered his eyes and said solemnly, "Yan Yan, I hope we can resolve this properly. At least that way, I can face Lanzhi."
"Then you should know, Father, that my mother's stance was just as firm as mine." Xia Yan felt that further talk was pointless. Xia Minghui was set on making her give half to Xia Siyue, and she would never back down on this.
"Yan Yan, how about this—whatever you want, I can give it to you..."
"I know what my mother left me."
The old matriarch of the Xia family, who had been listening outside the study, finally couldn't hold back. She pushed the door open abruptly and hobbled over to Xia Yan with her cane. "Your mother married into the Xia family. Everything she had belongs to us."
"You... you're nothing but robbers. I told you, I won't give in." Xia Yan was furious. She had always known the Xia family was selfish, but she never thought they could be this outrageous. Her face flushed red as she looked at the two people who should have been respected elders, but now she couldn't face them with respect. Without a second thought, she ignored them and left the study.
Back in her room, Xia Yan didn't know if her tears were just too abundant, but she couldn't help crying weakly into her bed. She felt utterly alone, with no one to help her. The only thing she could do was be strong.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhengting finally wrapped up his two-day meeting and took his private jet back to Jiangcheng. The project signed in the U.S. would launch in a week, requiring an overwhelming number of meetings to oversee.
A week later, Xia Yan had endured what felt like the hardest days of her life. From despair, she learned that when faced with despair, all that remained was despair. Hope was a luxury. She also understood that the departed would never return, no matter how well or poorly she lived. She pulled herself together, left the Xia home, and returned to school.
When the number that had disappeared for nearly ten days suddenly reappeared in her recent contacts, Xia Yan's heart didn't race. She answered the call slowly, her voice distant and cold. "Mr. Lu."
"Xia Yan." Lu Zhengting's deep voice slowly sounded. Sensing the change in Xia Yan—or rather, the change in her attitude toward him—he furrowed his brow.
"Where are you?"
"At school."
Lu Zhengting was sitting in his car. He hadn't slept well in a week, utterly exhausted. He shifted his position, and the driver, seemingly reading his boss's mind, turned the car toward Jiangda University. But by the time Lu Zhengting arrived at Jiangda, Xia Yan was still on her way.
Ye Yunchen had taken a day off to accompany Xia Yan. Knowing she was heading back to school, he silently seized the moment to drive her there. After hanging up on Lu Zhengting, Xia Yan felt nothing—not calm, not excitement. Nothing.
At the gate of Jiangda University.
Xia Yan spotted the Maybach parked to the side at once. She gripped her seatbelt tightly, frowning. Why was Lu Zhengting here looking for her?
To keep Ye Yunchen from knowing she knew Lu Zhengting, Xia Yan decisively asked him to stop at a coffee shop near the school. After seeing him off, she walked casually over to the Maybach and tapped on the window.
Lu Zhengting rolled down the window, his gaze locked on Xia Yan's haggard face. He had only learned of Cao Lanzhi's sudden death afterward. He knew she had been struggling, but he hadn't expected her to neglect herself so badly. He opened the car door, signaling her to get in.
"Mr. Lu, just say what you need to. I have to get back to school soon."
"Get in."
"Mr. Lu, I said I have to get back to school." Xia Yan said coldly, facing Lu Zhengting.
"Xia Yan." Xia Yan knew that whenever Lu Zhengting was angry with her, he would call her by her full name, and his tone would be especially heavy.