“That won’t stop me from becoming your bodyguard.”
Lu Qianqian could hear Lin Mu’an gasp even as she kept pressure on his wound.
“You’re falling apart and you’re still talking big.” She gave him a glare, and brought him to the hospital with her damaged car.
After a checkup, the doctor forced Lin Mu’an to remain at the hospital. “Young man, don’t go starting fights just because you heal well.”
“His grandfather sent people to beat him up.” Lu Qianqian told the doctor indignantly. “It’s the first time you’ve come across such a grandfather, isn’t it?”
Beside her, Lin Mu’an smiled even as he clutched at his own chest. Despite being beaten up by Old Lin, he had the cheerful little pepper with him.
And the sight of her going ballistic was his best medicine.
“You’re still smiling? You’re going to sprain your bones!” Lu Qianqian was utterly furious. “To think that your grandfather would do this to you… you must have been picked up from a dumpster.”
Extremely reluctant to hear Lu Qianqian rant on, Lin Mu’an simply gathered her into his arms right in front of the doctor, coaxing her. “Whether or not it was my grandfather, believe me, little pepper—I will protect you even if it means my life.”
“Who needs your protection…” Lu Qianqian firmly shoved Lin Mu’an, inadvertently touching his wound.
Lin Mu’an winced and actually sweated.
That being said, Lu Qianqian wanted nothing more than being friends with Lin Mu’an and certainly wouldn’t leave him to his own devices.
On the other hand, she did not know how serious Lin Mu’an was in his promise today.
***
Meanwhile, over at Sheng residence.
Old Sheng had told the Sheng family and Huang Yao to cut off all connection with Sheng Xiao because he was not about to let Sheng Xiao keeping them within arm’s reach this time around.
Even so, Old Sheng was supposed to at least offer an explanation to the Gu family now that Sheng Xiao had left Huang Yao.
Moreover, while he had promised to remove Mu Qiqi, the old man had not only removed her but also Sheng Xiao, with the latter directly announcing his departure from Huang Yao.
On the next morning, Old Sheng had invited the Gu family to his home as guests, with Mama Gu staying in his study for over two hours.
“Old Mister Sheng, our family is aware of what happened at the Sheng family. We could call off the arrangement between your Crown Prince and our Ziling, because from what I could tell, the Crown Prince really likes the young lady of the Shen family.”
The old man promptly waved her off when she finished, and told the Gu family, “Please do not worry, madam. We will go on as planned—I know my grandson. He is merely threatening me, and he would cave in when he knows that threats won’t work with me.”
“But…”
“Madam Gu, how about this? You have met my second grandson when you came in—he is not married yet either. Therefore, we could stick to our plan and let your daughter visit our family and choose the one she likes. What do you think?”
Madam Gu recalled Second Brother whom she passed on the way in. He certainly had striking looks and appear talented, and therefore nodded. “If that is the case, I’ll agree to your suggestion.”
After all, the Gu family knew that Second Brother now held the seat of power at Huang Yao, and they could accept either the Crown Prince or Second Brother anyway.
“That’s settled, then.”
It was only after the Gu family had left that Sixth Brother asked the old man, “Grandfather, about that…”
“It has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business.” The old man told him.
Either way, everything was ready.
Although there was no telling when the rebel that was Sheng Xiao had enough of his tantrum.
Sixth Brother hung his head, turned and was ready to leave when the old man suddenly called out to him. “Wait.”
“Grandfather?”
“Seal up Eight Brother’s room, and put the word out that since Eight Brother had left, he should never come back.
“Are you serious, grandfather?” Sixth Brother was confused.
“I can’t afford to look weak since he is putting up such a great act.” The old man snorted coldly. He would act as if he didn’t care for Sheng Xiao, so that he knew that threats wouldn’t work against him.
So what if everyone else knew that Sheng Xiao was having a silent protest against Huang Yao?
***
While the Xu family moved to Jianchuan and the Shen family gained power once again in the city, a new arms production corporation was on the path towards establishment.
It was nighttime with a climate of rain and snow.
Sheng Xiao and Shen Jianchuan were visiting the office of Zhongteng Industries together—they would be attending to administration matters here in the future.
Xu Che was pushing Shen Jianchuan’s wheelchair, whereas Sheng Xiao has one hand over Mu Qiqi’s shoulder.
“I like this place.” Mu QIqi told both men after walking around. “The view’s nice and not like Huang Yao—it’s so uncomfortable with all the diamonds everywhere.”
“Do you not like Huang Yao, or do you not like the people of Huang Yao?” Sheng Xiao asked, lifting her chin.
“When would you announce yourself now that you’ve already cut all ties with the Sheng family?” Shen Jianchuan asked Sheng Xiao then.
“I had wanted to teach the old man a lesson so that he could be aware of my resolve, but now I feel that the more mysterious I am, the better. Let everyone else believe that I have completely turned my back on Huang Yao, and let the old man believe that I am nothing without Huang Yao. This way, I could have some peace and quiet in the early days of Zhongteng’s founding, and everything works in my advantage.”
Shen Jianchuan nodded at that. “You will be the Shen family’s NEET, live-in son-in-law. Just hide yourself in our residence.”
“That’s what I have in mind as well.” Sheng Xiao replied.
“But would you really able to deal with certain people mocking you for being lame?”
“I’ll always have my ways to deal with such people, to trouble them behind the scenes.” Sheng Xiao was not concerned.
“If that is indeed what you have in mind, go for it. Our family could help you block the heat from Huang Yao.”
“Is the great CEO suffering patiently, but firmly determined on exacting revenge?”
“What else would I do? You are not going to have it easy with a husband chased out of his own family.”
Unable to keep watching as they flirted away, Shen Jianchuan allowed Xu Che to wheel him to his office for a spin.
He really wanted to sit on that seat like a normal person, but…
He clearly could not do that.
As for Sheng Xiao, now that he was working with Zhongteng, his new partners had changed completely. With Zhongteng being a military production corporation that manufactured necessities for armed forces, the people he needed to talk to now all have both power and influence, but never made themselves known publicly.
To him, it would be a brand-new challenge.
After reaching home and watching as Sheng Xiao stepped foot into a new frontier, Mu Qiqi couldn’t help climbing up to his thighs and watch him study the information. “Now that you’ve formed a new company with Dad, would you become involved with politics scene soon?”
“Wrong—I’ll be involved with you instead. I’ll even set up a special department to research and develop tools for forensic doctors so that you don’t have to worry cutting corpses apart!”