Chapter 110: What Are You Up To Now? (A special update for those who gifted tourmaline diamonds)

I still remember that time when Shaqi didn’t go back with Jiang Chenghuan but came back to the courtyard house with me. While taking a shower, she slipped and fell. Lying on the ground, she said it was nothing, nothing at all, then held me and cried uncontrollably, saying that the only person in this world who could bully me was her; if anyone else dared, it would be like crossing her.

“It's nothing, it’s nothing”—those became the most heartbreaking words I’ve ever heard.

There was another time during the university basketball tournament. Shaqi and Li Wanqiu brought a group of stunning cheerleaders to cheer for Jiang Chenghuan and Wenyuan. Our school won first place, and the young lady, overjoyed, treated everyone to a meal. That night, she got drunk, holding Jiang Chenghuan, laughing and crying, and insisted the basketball team call her "big sister-in-law."

Back then, she said that when she got married, she wanted me and Li Wanqiu to be bridesmaids, even saying she would personally design her wedding dress. She shamelessly declared that she could refuse any other gifts, but we absolutely had to give her a grand present.

When was the last time the three of us gathered?

I think it was after the Spring Festival. Shaqi was shouting she wanted to take people to deal with that unfaithful couple. Li Wanqiu was making calls. Before I could even cry, they were hugging each other and crying instead.

They were crying for me then, never imagining one day that blade would fall upon themselves.

I don’t know why, but I deeply miss those reckless youthful days with the three of us. I miss Shaqi so much—has she felt even a little better? Or is she still hiding quietly in some lonely corner, shedding tears?

I cried as I told Luo Ange all this. By then, he had taken me back to the villa. I sat on the sofa on the bedroom balcony, surrounded by tissues soaked with my tears and runny nose.

Luo Ange looked helpless: “Alright, alright, you’re grown up now. Don’t scare Xibao.”

I took the chance to make a request. “Then please don’t pull out your investment, okay?”

He laughed softly. “Who said I was pulling out? That was just to make you submit. Now that you’re mine, why would I pull out?”

A couple of days later, I packed some kimchi and plum wine I had prepared long ago and sent them to Aunt Su.

A servant led me upstairs. Aunt Su was practicing calligraphy in her study, writing Wang Wei’s line: “Walking to where the water ends, sitting to watch the clouds rise.”

Honestly, I just came to see her. Uncle Xia was busy with Kang University matters, and Shaqi was gone. I didn’t know who else to talk to.

Aunt Su has always loved the kimchi I make. We sat on the balcony, and she brewed me a cup of Blue Mountain coffee.

My heart felt warm, but I didn’t know what to say. Afraid I’d break down, I just nodded repeatedly.

When I said goodbye, Aunt Su insisted on seeing me off. I didn’t dare let her see Luo Ange, so I scrambled to find excuses.

The next evening, I bought some things and went to Wang Keying’s house to try to get to the bottom of what was really going on. I thought she was the best breakthrough point.

But to my surprise, the courtyard house was empty. Neighbors told me that Wang Keying and her grandfather had moved out yesterday, and no one knew where they had gone.

I trudged back, dejected. Everything felt too strange, like someone was carefully setting a trap, waiting for me to stumble in.

I didn’t know if the one behind this was Li Wanqiu.

The phone soon connected. Luo Ange gave a hum and asked, “Finished so soon?”

I told him Wang Keying’s family had moved away. He laughed: “Don’t be sad. A few friends and I are at Langyuan having tea. Ask Ayun to bring you here.”

These days, our time together had been extremely pleasant. He seemed to enjoy being my chauffeur in his free time, and I was happy to accept. Without a second thought, I agreed.

At Langyuan, the waiter led me straight to the top floor and into the seaside private room. Sure enough, Luo Ange was there with several men, drinking tea.

Seeing me, he stood and came over, pulling me into his arms to kiss me. “Tired?”

I shook my head, thinking it might be inappropriate with others around.

He pointed to each of the men and introduced them: “This is Yosuke Miyamoto, my junior from university; this is Zheng Nanfeng, my senior; and this is Mei Xiujie, my cousin.”

I greeted the three handsome men present. Mei Xiujie smiled and said, “Ange, I’ve long heard you keep a beauty hidden at home. Seeing her today, the rumors are true.”

Zheng Nanfeng joked, “Exactly, I’m an old man now, almost envious and jealous. Hey, sis-in-law, do you have any girlfriends? Introduce one to your big brother here.”

Luo Ange rolled his eyes. “Stop causing trouble for the poor girls.”

After some casual talk, they moved on to business. I listened a while and caught some details. That Japanese man, Miyamoto Yosuke, had recently gone to the U.S. to negotiate an acquisition. Although the deal seemed settled, the other party suddenly backed out, demanding an extra ten percent. Hearing that Luo Ange was friends with their COO, he wanted Luo Ange to help talk it over.

Luo Ange placed a piece of mango cake in front of me, cut it into small pieces, then said to Miyamoto, “Why do you seem so gentle lately? In the past, you never batted an eye at deals like this.”

Miyamoto smiled. “My sister has been watching me closely. Even my grandmother sent the old steward to keep an eye on me. I can’t really move freely.”

Zheng Nanfeng, whispering with Mei Xiujie, suddenly asked, “Yosuke, why don’t you let Ange talk to your sister? She listens to him the most, doesn’t she?”

The atmosphere suddenly chilled. I felt Luo Ange’s piercing gaze slash across Zheng Nanfeng’s face like a knife. Mei Xiujie quickly tried to smooth things over: “Alright, enough jokes. Let’s get back to business.”

Luo Ange grabbed a tissue to wipe my mouth and poured me a glass of orange juice. After I drank half, he turned to Miyamoto and asked, “Do you want me to accompany you? I happen to have business in the States.”

Yosuke hesitated. “God, are you thinking about buying another company? If I’m not mistaken, you’ve already fully acquired six foreign firms this year.”

Luo Ange shook his head. “This is about Xibao. There’s a new drug being developed by a hospital in the U.S.”

All three men nodded knowingly. So the plan was set.

When the gathering ended, Zheng Nanfeng enthusiastically invited me to visit his spa club. Luo Ange shot him a look, and he immediately wilted, making an excuse and speeding away in his Ferrari.

Mei Xiujie and Miyamoto laughed heartily. Luo Ange held me close and quietly asked if I was tired.

I shook my head and suddenly remembered that before leaving at night, Xibao had instructed me to bring back some egg tarts from BreadTalk. I asked if they wanted to go for some egg tarts.

Mei Xiujie waved his hand, and Miyamoto shook his head; the two left.

Once in the car, Luo Ange held me tightly. “I’ve asked Amu to investigate Wang Keying’s matter; we’ll have results soon. School starts in two days. You stay put and don’t run around anymore.”

He knew exactly what I was thinking. I felt touched and nodded in agreement.

That night, I asked Luo Ange if there was any hope for Xibao’s foot to recover. The thought of her spending her life confined to a wheelchair broke my heart.

Before sleeping, I tentatively asked Xibao if she had suffered much over the years. She shook her head, saying that as long as she had her brother, she wouldn’t cry. And with a sister-in-law, it wouldn’t feel hard anymore.

Luo Ange was silent for a few seconds. “We’re working on it. Everyone’s trying. Don’t worry; it’ll be fine. Mom’s watching from heaven. I’ll make sure Xibao can stand again.”

I nodded, laying my head in his arms. He stroked my hair and suddenly said, “You haven’t contacted your family since coming back. Still mad at your dad?”

I said nothing. He understood. “In a couple of days, I’ll arrange it. You come with me to see Mom first, then I’ll go with you home. You have to meet them.”

Still silent, he pulled the covers over me and softly coaxed, “Go to sleep, go to sleep.”

The next day, Guan Shanyuan came to Kang City with Bai Xue and took Xibao to the water park. Luo Ange was busy outside. I, bored, went to stroll in the backyard.

There was a goldfish pond. It was my first time here feeding the fish. I took out my phone and sent a “feed the fish” message.

The person quickly replied, “Hmm?”

I grabbed a handful of fish food, threw it into the pond, and watched the fish scramble for it, smiling. I sent back: “Hmm.”

He quickly replied, “Little demon, trying to tempt me again, hmm?”

I giggled. “Can you still eat me?”

He quickly responded, “You better not fall into my hands, or you know what will happen, hmm?”

I put away my phone, scattered the last fish food into the pond, clapped my hands, and went to the swing set, leisurely swinging.

Back in Jingnan, Zhou Yang had fiddled with a harmonica in the study. Seeing I liked it, he casually gave it to me.

I hadn’t played in a long time, and the notes were a bit off. After several tries, I finally played “The Insects Fly” through smoothly.

Before my eyes flashed the memory of that night by Lan Jing Lake, watching fireflies with Luo Ange. His eyes shone like fireflies, shining straight into the darkest corners of my heart.

I never told him that night, among the countless fireflies, I suddenly saw a pair of wings sprout behind him—not Satan’s, but an angel’s.

He was the angel sent from heaven to be by my side.

No matter what he did to me—protecting or hurting me, treating me well or badly—I helplessly loved him.

Just as the prelude to “Midnight Serenade” played, someone covered my eyes. That familiar scent wrapped around me like chocolate.

I felt a bite on my neck and laughed, grabbing those hands.

He turned my face, and his warm lips pressed down.

I turned my head, hugging his neck, deepening the kiss willingly, reluctant to let go.

His breath grew heavier. His hands grew restless, even kneading me until it hurt.

I called his name softly, “Luo Ange...”

Forgive me for not expressing my feelings properly. Forgive me for not wanting to leave you.

When he carried me sideways, shyly leaning against his chest, I wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered, “Luo Ange, if you hurt me again, I really won’t want you anymore.”

As he carried me through the living room upstairs, the servants, led by Fourth Sister-in-Law, seemed to block out everything, going about their duties as if we were invisible.

Climbing the stairs, I clung tightly to his neck, whispering his name in his ear. His whole body stiffened, his face flushed red, and tiny beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

When I teased him again, he groaned and bit my earlobe. “Little demon, do you believe I’ll just execute you on the spot right now?”