Chapter 106: Past Affairs of the Luo Family - Bonus Chapter for Diamond Donations

Long Jue said, “Hold on, hold on. We’ve been planning this for so long—are you really going to get us killed over a woman?”

Zhou Yang asked again, “You can’t expect Lanshan to live her whole life in the shadows, can you? I’ve seen her temper—she’s fierce, like a wild horse. The Ningxiang Jewelry banquet is just around the corner. You better think this through.”

Luo Ange pondered for a moment before speaking, “There’s been a lot going on these past few days. Let’s talk about this after things settle down.”

Long Jue said, “Third Brother, how’s your health? You look exhausted, both body and mind. Several times I’ve woken up in the middle of the night and seen you drenched in sweat from old pains flaring up… If it’s really no good, we should consider surgery. Dragging this out could be fatal.”

Luo Ange waved him off, “I’m fine. You all should get some rest.”

Zhou Yang and Long Jue left, and when they saw me standing at the door, they weren’t surprised. They just smiled at me and went their separate ways.

A few steps away, Zhou Yang turned back, stuffed a thick wad of RMB into my hands, and blew me a kiss. “Sister-in-law, this is the money I won betting with Long Jue. It’s all yours. Don’t be mad, okay?”

I refused, but he put on a stern face. “Take it.”

I laughed, and he blew me two more kisses before sashaying away.

I stepped inside. Luo Ange sat back in his chair with his eyes closed, looking utterly worn out.

I quietly approached and began massaging his temples. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. Seeing it was me, he smiled and pulled me onto his lap.

“I want to see Shu Congxuan,” I said.

As expected, he jumped up, pushed me away, and shook his head firmly. “No.”

I told him I had checked the news. Lately, I’d been cut off from the world—none of the communication tools that connected me to it had appeared in my sight. But now, since I had a good relationship with Fourth Sister-in-law and could borrow her phone under the pretense of playing games, I managed to get the information I needed.

I knew that several board members of Luo Corporation had unanimously transferred their shares to Luo Ange, and they had all emigrated abroad with their families. This made Luo Ange the second-largest shareholder after his father, Luo Mingze, far surpassing Shu Aiqing.

I knew the reason Shu Congxuan was released was because Luo Ange found evidence proving that those software programs were independently developed by Shu Congxuan.

I also knew that Shu Aiqing had never returned to work at Luo Corporation.

Luo Ange’s eyes grew inscrutable, as if questioning me: “Have I not treated you well? Why do you still think of Shu Congxuan?”

I leaned against him coquettishly. “I never liked him. I just considered him a very good friend.”

Of course, he didn’t believe me. He bit my shoulder playfully. “Hmm? What about me?”

I endured the sting. “You? You’re a damn pervert. Don’t think that just because you’ve been nice to me lately, I’ll forget all the unforgivable things you did before.”

That was true—words I’d held inside for a long time, waiting for the right moment to say.

Luo Ange was silent; I could only feel his breathing. After a long pause, he turned me around and pressed his forehead to mine.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. I know I’m a bastard. I know I owe you… Let me repay you this lifetime. Don’t ever leave me this life, and don’t leave me the next. Just give me a chance.”

It was the first time he had called me by my nickname, and the first time in a while he had said something almost like a confession. I was shocked but still asked, “What if I’m unwilling?”

He suddenly pulled me close, his gaze dark and angry.

Now that I knew his feelings, it was like I held a royal edict—I wasn’t afraid. Instead, I teased him, “Luo Ange, why should I forgive you? At Huxin Elegant Garden, you called Sister Hua to ‘train’ me and showed me those disgusting things. You did such awful things to me. Tell me, why should I forgive you?”

Suddenly, he lifted me into his arms. I panicked, wrapping my arms around his neck and shouting, “What are you doing? Put me down!”

He carried me upstairs. “You’re still hung up on what happened last time? Then I’ll have to personally repay what I owe you.”

I roughly understood his meaning. Thinking of those scenes I’d seen that day, I blushed and felt an inexplicable resistance.

Emotionally and mentally, I knew Luo Ange loved me, but physically, after everything I’d been through, I wasn’t ready to accept him yet.

Luo Ange hurried upstairs, breathing hard, eyes full of desire, his whole body burning.

I couldn’t help but speak up, “Luo Ange, I was joking just now, I…”

Before I could finish, Fourth Sister-in-law’s voice called from downstairs, “Young master, Mr. Zhu is back.”

A few days ago, Zhu Bang had gone to Kang City, probably to handle company matters and now had returned to report to Luo Ange.

I chuckled softly and let go of Luo Ange, jumping down. He wore a stern face, leaned close to my ear, and bit my earlobe, gritting his teeth. “Just you wait.”

When Zhu Bang entered, I was startled. The girl I had met in Kang City last time was now sitting in a wheelchair.

She smiled warmly upon seeing me. “Sister-in-law…”

I was momentarily confused before realizing she was addressing me. From the first meeting, I knew she was Luo Ange’s sister because their features were nearly identical.

Luo Ange took my hand and pulled me downstairs. Holding my hand, he placed it in his sister’s, saying earnestly, “From now on, you, me, and Xibao—we’re one family.”

Luo Xi looked innocent and naive, blinking her big eyes and smiling at me. “Sister-in-law, you’re so pretty.”

I blushed and teased Luo Ange for not telling me his sister was coming earlier, so I could have prepared a proper gift.

He lowered his voice, “We’re family. What need is there for gifts?”

Xibao was thrilled by the persimmon cakes I made and wouldn’t stop eating them. Worried she might hurt her throat, I urged her to eat less.

Luo Ange watched us playfully from the side, indulging us as he reviewed documents.

That night, Luo Ange worked late in the study. I was half asleep but woke fully from the familiar scent on his body.

I instinctively turned over and nestled into his embrace. He held me and suddenly said, “Fifteen years ago, I had a harmonious and happy family. Back then, Xibao and I’s favorite thing was to hang around Mom’s studio, watching her research skincare and jewelry. Then…”

A sudden bad feeling swept over me, recalling what Zhu Bang had said before. Nervously, I whispered, “Then what?”

Luo Ange, perhaps after years of not speaking of this buried past, ran his hand like a comb through the back of my head. “Then rumors started—people said Mom was having an affair, that Xibao wasn’t Dad’s child… Dad was furious, fought with Mom, and stormed out. Mom took us to my grandparents’ house. My uncle was angry and took people to beat Dad up. My grandfather wouldn’t tolerate such a thing, so the two families were at odds. After a long period of quarrels, Dad proposed divorce… Mom, of course, refused. She loved Dad and the family dearly. Besides, she had poured half her heart into Dad’s company. But Dad was adamant, willing to walk away with nothing… Later, I found out Dad had been involved with Shu Aiqing for a long time and even had a child with her…”

My heart clenched. The cruelest thing in the world is a man caught between two women who never even hesitates—he simply chooses the other.

And after such a thing, there is always more to come: the man giving up everything, even his empire, for the new love.

Feeling Luo Ange’s arms tighten as if to pull me into his very bones, I sighed silently and shrank into his chest.

“You know, Mom always treated Shu Aiqing like her own niece, letting her study in her studio. She never imagined that the girl she thought so kind would one day steal the man she loved most. At that time, Shu Aiqing was hiding in a villa Dad had arranged for her. Mom hired many private detectives before finding her there. They had a quarrel, and the child was dropped, sent to the hospital but didn’t survive. The child had a congenital heart defect, but Dad blamed Mom for everything and was determined to get a divorce at any cost. Mom had no choice but to sign the papers. Six months later, Dad ignored everyone’s objections and married Shu Aiqing, even renaming the group Luo Ai. On their wedding day, Mom took her own life…”

Words failed to capture the shock tearing through me, like a tsunami crashing or a volcano erupting. I clung tightly to Luo Ange. “I know, I know…”

He lowered his voice. “After Mom’s accident, Grandpa feared I’d lose my mind and forcibly took me to Moscow. Because Grandma begged him, Xibao stayed behind to live with her. But within a year, Xibao had an accident. She ran a high fever of 41 degrees and was hit by a car outside. Doctors said she would be confined to a wheelchair for life…”

I didn’t know how to comfort this wounded man. I could only promise him over and over that I would always treat Xibao well.

Before sleep, Luo Ange said he would take me to visit his mother someday.

The next day, after breakfast, I went to the hospital for an injection. The doctor examined me and said the scar on my forehead required minimally invasive plastic surgery. As for the ugly scars on my body, he said they just needed time to heal slowly.

Luo Ange asked the doctor if I might become deaf and mute again in a few days.

The doctor’s answer was reassuring: “This kind of reaction is usually psychological. If there’s further trauma, relapse is possible.”

When it was Luo Ange’s turn for the checkup, he wouldn’t let me accompany him, only allowing the nurse to apply medicine to me.

Both of us had intravenous drips. Perhaps I had become numb over time; the medicine went in quickly and was soon done. Luo Ange, however, had a large bottle still hanging.

He was thoughtful, knowing I would definitely get bored, so he brought a tablet for me to play games.

Back in middle school, I learned to play World of Warcraft from Du Fanchuan. Back then, his username was “Brave Heart.” I was terrible at the game but named myself “Brave Liver.” Later, Xia Qi joined us as “Brave Spleen,” and eventually, I pulled Li Wanqiu in as “Brave Lung.”

In the game, Du Fanchuan took the lead, with Li Wanqiu and Xia Qi close behind, and I pretended to be a pro, though I knew nothing.

Now, no one plays Warcraft anymore, just like Du Fanchuan will never play with me again. Even if I changed my name to “Brave Heart,” he couldn’t play with me.

Zhou Yang and Long Jue acted like Luo Ange’s attendants. Wherever he went, they followed, always deferential—one calling him “brother-in-law,” the other “brother.” It gave me goosebumps.

I took the tablet to the balcony but kept my ears alert for any sounds.