Lu Zhentao didn’t take Lu Yunzhou’s advice well at all. “It’s the Song family that’s being unreasonable. Old Man Song personally set the engagement years ago, and now they’re trying to welch on the deal!”

“Dad, that was how many years ago? Besides, neither you nor Old Man Song exchanged any keepsakes—it’s all just verbal.” Lu Yunzhou pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

“I don’t care about all that,” Lu Zhentao huffed. “Old Man Song ran off abroad to enjoy his retirement, but he can’t just abandon the mess he left behind here. I’ve already called him and told him to return as soon as possible to finalize the marriage between Song Xu and Xiaoqi.”

Lu Yunzhou’s head started to throb. “Dad, why didn’t you discuss something this major with me?”

“Marriages are for the elders to decide. Why would I discuss it with you?” Lu Zhentao glared at him sideways. “You’re always just helping outsiders.”

“Let’s drop this for now,” Lu Yunzhou said, sensing he was about to have another mess to clean up. “What about the current situation? That college student, Xiao Yang, has already been arrested. If he spills the beans about our family, you can forget about Song Xu marrying Xiaoqi.”

“Take him out,” Lu Zhentao said ruthlessly. “Dead men tell no tales.”

Lu Yunzhou rubbed his forehead. “Murder in a police station? Dad, are you trying to get the entire Lu family thrown in jail?”

Lu Zhentao paused. He hadn’t been involved in the nitty-gritty for a long time, and hearing his son put it that way, he realized it made sense.

Changgui, who was still kneeling nearby, spoke up. “Director Lu, why don’t we get him out and send him abroad? Xiao Yang’s parents aren’t exactly nobodies. If we help them, they’ll remember our kindness. Why not kill two birds with one stone?”

“Makes sense. Let’s do that,” Lu Zhentao decided with a slap of his hand. “Changgui, this is in your hands now.”

“Yes, Director Lu. I’ll make sure it gets done this time,” Changgui replied, bowing his head.

“Alright then.” Lu Zhentao stood up and looked at Lu Yunzhou. “Yunzhou, you focus on the company’s operations from now on. Leave the… under-the-table matters to your father.”

“I’m taking Changgui with me. You get back to work.”

With that, Lu Zhentao left with Changgui in tow.

Lu Yunzhou sat back on the sofa, his face dark and sullen. Something felt off. What kind of pull did a guy like Changgui have that he could possibly snatch someone out of a police station?

From Changfu before to Changgui today, the people around his father seemed more than they appeared, and he had a nagging suspicion that his father was hiding something. Then there was the mention of the equity shares today—Lu Yunzhou fell into deep thought. His father had no intention of transferring his shares to him. Who was he planning to leave them to?

Lu Yunqi? Other than his younger sister, who else could it be?

—

Ever since her period arrived, Lin Xi had finally enjoyed two nights of good sleep.

She insisted on sleeping in separate rooms; if they shared a bed, Song Xu would insist on being… affectionate, and she was just too exhausted. After two days, Lin Xi felt refreshed. Early on the third morning, she got up, planning to spend the day at the hospital with her grandmother.

Song Xu caught her at the door. “Xixi, where are you going?”

“To the hospital to see Grandma. I haven’t been in days,” Lin Xi said.

“I’ll go with you. It’s not safe for you to go alone.” Song Xu cornered her, kissing her earlobe. “Is your period over yet?”

Lin Xi glared at him. “Is your brain just one giant reproductive organ? Do you ever think about anything else?”

“I wasn’t thinking about that,” Song Xu argued. “I was just wondering if you brought enough sanitary pads so you wouldn’t run out. What were you thinking about?”

Lin Xi closed her eyes, ready to cut ties with him for at least a minute.

Suddenly, she felt weightless as Song Xu scooped her up and carried her into his bedroom.

“Song Xu!” Lin Xi shrieked. “What are you doing?”

Song Xu laid her on the bed and leaned over her. “Xixi, I missed you. Let me kiss you, okay?”

“You…” Before Lin Xi could get the word “no” out, her mouth was sealed by his, as if he feared she might actually refuse. As he kissed her, her clothes somehow vanished.

“Song Xu!” Lin Xi felt like strangling him. There was nothing she could do while on her period, and Song Xu was just plain torturing her.

Song Xu wasn’t having an easy time of it either. He’d been “famine-stricken” for two days; he dreamt of her, woke up in the middle of the night, and had to take cold showers. He felt lucky Lin Xi hadn’t gotten pregnant, and he had no intention of letting her get pregnant anyway—what was the point of a kid? Just dead weight. A life of just the two of them was perfect.

“Xixi, I’m so uncomfortable. Help me out!” Song Xu nuzzled against her, acting spoiled.

Like she wasn’t uncomfortable too. Lin Xi huffed. “Stay uncomfortable. You brought this on yourself.”

“Xixi,” Song Xu rubbed his nose against her cheek. “You don’t know how I struggled through these last two nights. If you don’t help me, I’m going to unscrew the bedroom door from its hinges.”

“How can you be so unreasonable?” Lin Xi was speechless. Song Xu in bed was a completely different person from his usual self, though his domineering nature remained exactly the same.

Under his persistence, Lin Xi eventually gave in and helped him once.

Song Xu was finally satisfied. He let her off the hook and accompanied her out of the apartment.

Lu Yunqi had been sitting in her car, and when she finally saw Song Xu emerge, her frustration boiled over. She’d tried finding him several times over the last few days—his phone was off, he didn’t return her messages, and she was worried sick. She’d had no choice but to come and wait for him, and her patience had finally paid off.

Unfortunately, that annoying Lin Xi was by his side. Hmph, that little harlot really has all the luck. Let her enjoy these next few days; when Grandpa Song returns, we’ll see how “beautiful” she feels then.

Lu Yunqi climbed out of her car and ran toward him. “Song Xu!”

Song Xu and Lin Xi stopped, watching Lu Yunqi dash toward them.

Lin Xi’s face stiffened. She turned to Song Xu and said, “Your little childhood sweetheart is here to see you.”

Song Xu coughed, squeezed Lin Xi’s hand, and waited for her to arrive.

“Song Xu, where are you going?” Lu Yunqi asked, her eyes fixed solely on him, completely ignoring Lin Xi.

Lin Xi rolled her eyes at her from the side.

“Xiao Qi, what are you doing here?” Song Xu asked with a detached expression. “I’m taking Xixi to see her grandmother.”

“I couldn’t reach you—your phone was off, and you didn’t reply to my messages. I was worried, so I came to check on you.” Lu Yunqi’s face filled with concern. “You weren’t sick these last few days, were you?”

“I wasn’t feeling well, so I stayed home for two days and turned my phone off,” Song Xu explained.

“Oh, so you were sick,” Lu Yunqi glanced at Lin Xi sideways. “Some people really are useless. Don’t even know how to take care of someone properly.”

“Song Xu, I managed to snag two concert tickets for that singer we both love. Let’s go together, shall we?” Lu Yunqi waved the two tickets in the air.

Lin Xi looked at Song Xu. “Do you want to go?”

Song Xu hesitated. He did like the singer, but he certainly didn’t want to go with Lu Yunqi. If only Lin Xi would go with him instead…

Seeing his hesitation, Lin Xi yanked her hand away. “Fine, you two go together. I’m going to the hospital.”