Because of the news that Zhou Jingren received, the planned picnic did not happen. Of course, he also informed Lily about the things that Bei Tian and Qin Yuanfeng had discovered. After she gave some inputs about the plan, Zhou Jingren left to see his parents. Because his mother was the one managing the Tanaka Clan’s activities in the black market now, he needed to cooperate with her to make everything about their plan believable enough to fool Su Ru and Su Mingyu.

  Zhou Jingren said that it would take about a week of preparation before they can actually start with their plan.

  Because of this, Lily was left bored with Qin Yuanfeng in the mansion. However, instead of sleeping, Lily decided to have some fun with her brother. "Check mate." She beamed. "I won this time." She said as she eyed the frown in Qin Yuanfeng’s face.

  "You are surprisingly good at Chess." He said, his eyes still on the board.

  "I am not sure if that is an insult or……"

  "I am praising you." He interrupted her, prompting Lily to laugh out loud.

  "I know! Silly!"

  "Another game?" he asked.

  "No." She was expecting that Qin Yuanfeng would be better than her at Chess. Surprisingly, she had already beat her brother twice in a row. Wasn’t this enough proof that she was smarter than him? Lily chuckled at her own thoughts before she rose from her seat. "I am hungry. I want another bowl of rice porridge."

  He nodded before he instructed one of her attendants to prepare two bowls of porridge for their lunch. "I was expecting to see you pacing around, hand on your chin, with a very worried look on your face today." He uttered as he started putting the chess pieces back on the box.

  "Why would I do that?"

  "You know why……" he shrugged.

  "Oh! No," she said as she walked towards their portrait made of gems. "I trust him." She knew that everything would go well. There was no need for her to lament over her emotions. Moreover, worrying while being pregnant was not good for her and the baby.

  Hearing her words, Qin Yuanfeng nodded. Maybe couples who truly love each other have that special kind of trust. Sadly, this was something that he never experienced with his past lover. He laughed inwardly. If this trust existed between them, then maybe she would still be alive right now. Not that he regretted any of it.

  "Aren’t you worried?" he asked.

  "I am." But would that accomplish anything? All she could do right now was stay at home where she was protected while Zhou Jingren did his thing. She was no hero. Her presence right now, would only distract him. It would only make him worry about her safety, therefore distracting his emotions. She would not be that stupid to cause any danger for both of them.

  This was the reason why she chose to stay here instead of going with him. Good thing, Zhou Jingren and she had the same train of thought.

  "Alright." Lily said. "Go prepare your stuff so you can help them at a moment’s notice." She added. "Of course, you can do that after lunch."……

  It did not take a lot of time for them to finish their food.

  Lily chose to stay in their room while Qin Yuanfeng started doing his own stuff. After a couple of minutes, Lily fell asleep. However, this did not last long as Qin Yuanfeng woke her up.

  "Who?" she frowned.

  "A woman named Eleonor Brooke. She said you met with her a couple of months back." Qin Yuanfeng said. "She is someone who married to a certain Mr. Brooke. She is also Adalind Brooke’s step— "

  "Thank you. I remember. Did she tell you why she was here?"

  "She said it was important that you see each other now." Qin Yuanfeng uttered. "I can always say that you are busy, you know."

  "No nevermind that. I will go ahead and change. Let her wait inside in the living room. It’s pretty cold outside." Lily immediately changed her clothes and went downstairs to see the purple dressed Mrs. Brooke. A smile immediately grew on Lily’s face. "Mrs. Brooke."

  "Mrs. Zhou." She gave a cordial smile as she rose from her seat. She waited for Lily to sit on the couch opposite her. "I am sorry for not calling you before coming in here. It’s just that—" she eyed Qin Yuanfeng who stood next to Lily. "I need to talk to you. In private." She made sure to emphasize on the word private, hoping to convey the importance of them talking to each other, alone.

  For a few seconds, Lily stared at the woman before she eyed her brother. In response, Qin Yuanfeng nodded, a sign that just like everyone else, Mrs. Brooke had passed the scan for potentially dangerous items before they let her inside. Meaning she was not carrying any weapons that could put Lily in danger.

  "Alright." Lily nodded. "Please follow me." She stood and walked towards Zhou Jingren’s study with Mrs. Brooke following her. While Lily did not really know this woman, she also could not shake the feeling that she needed to hear the words that she would say. It was an instinct, a strong one.

  "You have a very beautiful house."

  Lily responded with a hum as she opened the door to Zhou Jingren’s study. "Please, let’s talk inside." She gestured for her to follow her inside.

  After making themselves comfortable, Lily asked Siyang to give them some tea. "I am assuming this is very important?" Lily spoke after a few minutes of silence.

  "I believe so, yes."

  Lily stared at the woman opposite her. She always knew that Mrs. Brooke was a very smart woman. Surely, the latter would not really waste her own time in coming back to Hongkong after what happened to Adalind and her mother, right?

  "Well…… let’s wait for tea before we start talking?" Lily smiled. "How are you? Is everything going well for you?"

  Mrs. Brooke responded with a slight smile. An unfathomable expression flashed in her eyes. "I have been well. However, Charlotte and Adalind…… not so much."

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