Qin Shu allowed the silence for what felt like an age and then repeated herself. “I want to see how he is.”


  Fu Tingyu pinched the space between his brows. He could feel the beginning of a headache but was helpless to prevent it.

  “Fine. I’ll go with you.”


  “I don’t think you should. You’ve been running yourself ragged with all the work that has piled up – you don’t sleep unless I stop you. Do you know how many nights you’ve worked past midnight? Even I have lost count! You don’t even spend time talking to our baby these days… Please don’t add to my worries.” Qin Shu was resolute, standing by her convictions. She would not allow him to burden himself to such an extent for her. It went against her beliefs.

  Qin Shu did her best to appease Fu Tingyu. “There’s nothing you need to worry about; I’ll be with Gu Yan. Isn’t he someone you trust? Moreover, he is a doctor himself. If anything were to happen to me, he would be the best person to treat me.”


  “I’ll be back soon. I won’t be gone for too long.” She promised.

  Fu Tingyu clenched his phone tightly, locked in a fierce internal debate. It was with great reluctance that he agreed. “Alright, I’ll have Ye Luo go with you.”


  Qin Shu nodded vigorously, aware that it was the biggest compromise Fu Tingyu was willing to make. “Okay.”


  Hanging up, Qin Shu hurried to her room to pack her luggage.

  “Xiao Bao, where are you going?” Lan Qi was confused. He was not privy to her thoughts, so when Qin Shu made a beeline for her room, he had no choice but to chase her down for answers.

  President Ba, being much quicker on the uptake than his human counterparts, leapt into action the moment his mistress started for her room.

  Before President Ba could escape his reach, Lan Qi bent down and scooped the black cat into his arms, hurrying after Qin Shu with significant strides.

  President Ba was naturally happy by this sudden turn of events. Who would want to expend more effort than strictly necessary? He was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth! With his new steed, he passed by Ye Luo in a heartbeat, yawning smugly. However, he failed to elicit the response he had expected. Ye Luo remained utterly expressionless.

  Ye Luo glanced at the youth who had suddenly appeared and voluntarily became the infernal cat’s chauffeur. The haughty, self-satisfied look of content on President Ba’s face was practically asking for a good pummeling.

  President Ba had disappeared for two hours, and everyone had been sent into a frenzy searching for him. Yet, here he was now, enjoying a ride in a stranger’s arms.

  Did he have a shred of self-respect at all?

  Though he was fuming inside, Ye Luo did not allow his personal feelings to show. To the whole world, he was no better than an expressionless mannequin.

  Qin Shu threw together her luggage in quick order. There was not a moment to lose.

  With how hot the weather was now, there was no need for her to pack extra clothes.

  Everything was ready in short order.

  Lan Qi stood to one side with President Ba in arms. He was a quiet as a mouse, not wishing to disturb Qin Shu as she packed.

  “Ye Luo, book our tickets for the train heading to Imperial City.” Qin Shu instructed just as she snapped her luggage shut.

  “Yes, Young Madam.” Ye Luo whipped out his phone and did as the young madam bade.

  Sizing up her room, Qin Shu realised she was missing something. It was her laptop. It had become a habit for her to carry the portable computer with her, and leaving it behind did not feel right. As such, she swiped it off her bedside table, tucking it in her hand luggage.

  Ye Luo soon received confirmation of the three tickets he had booked.

  Qin Shu glanced at Lan Qi. “Let’s go.”


  With nothing else holding them back, the trio departed.

  Lan Qi was surprisingly obedient this time. He followed Qin Shu without a word of complaint. Just as they were going down the stairs, he could not help but ask, “Xiao Bao, how is it you don’t remember me?”


  “I lost a part of my memory, so I can’t say for certain whether I know you or not. Once I regain my memory, the truth will become clear.” Qin Shu’s reply was straightforward, brooking no room for further discussion.

  “Oh, I see.” It was Lan Qi’s first time hearing of this piece of information, and it came as quite a blow to him. No wonder she showed no sign of knowing him.

  A man waited for her in the living room. When Qin Shu caught sight of him, her footsteps slowed involuntarily, startled by the man’s unexpected appearance.

  Was he going to insist on following her?

  “Are you done packing?” Fu Tingyu walked up to Qin Shu, sparing a quick nod in Ye Luo’s direction.

  Fu Tingyu was much taller than she was, so Qin Shu had no choice but to look up if she wanted to meet his gaze. “What are you doing here? Didn’t you agree that I could go with Gu Yan?”


  Fu Tingyu slung an arm around her waist, pulling her into a partial hug; his eyes were fixed on her bulging belly, a trace of tender warmth glowing within his half-lidded eyes. “Even though I trust Gu Yan with you, I still worry for your safety. Let me go with you. Only then will I feel at ease.”


  “Don’t be silly. You’ve got so much on your plate already. There’s no need for you to accompany me to the capital. Your time would be better spent clearing those mounds of paperwork you neglected for so long.” Working overtime for a day or two would not induce long-lasting effects, but if he carried on in the long-term, it would hurt his body.

  Qin Shu stood on her tiptoes, with her arms clinging around his neck for support, and planted a kiss on his lips. “Baby Yu, listen to me. Gu Yan and I will be back soon. Can you wait for us at Bright Garden, please?”


  Fu Tingyu raked his hair with equal parts frustration and helplessness. “Alright… You and Gu Yan should take the jet; you’ll reach the capital much sooner, that way.”


  “Okay.” Qin Shu readily agreed. Taking a plane would be much faster than travelling by train.

  Fu Tingyu usually hardly ever used his private jet.

  He only used it when having urgent matters to settle.

  He preferred using either the high-speed train or a regular commercial plane to his jet.

  Qin Shu had been on Fu Tingyu’s jet before, so it was a familiar sight for her.

  Gu Yan met them at the airfield. He had rushed over as fast as he could.

  “I thought we were taking the high-speed train. I didn’t expect to fly on a private jet instead,” said Gu Yan as he greeted Fu Tingyu. “Are you coming with us?” Gu Yan asked his friend.

  Fu Tingyu shook his head. “I won’t be going just yet. Take care of her for me, won’t you?”


  Fu Tingyu trusted Gu Yan wholeheartedly. He would not have felt comfortable letting Qin Shu go to the capital herself without Gu Yan’s escorting her.

  Taken aback, it took Gu Yan some time to get his bearings. He never imagined a day Fu Tingyu, the most prideful man he knew, would come to place such faith in anyone else but himself. “I’m surprised. I thought you would follow us by hook or by crook.” With a smile on his face, he said, “Don’t worry. I promise I’ll take care of her well.”


  Fu Tingyu: “I’ll hold you to your word.”


  After extracting the promise from Gu Yan, Fu Tingyu pulled Qin Shu into arms, embracing her and their unborn child. “Come back soon. I’ll wait for you to return. I won’t sleep without you.”


  Qin Shu bobbed her head. “I’ll be back before you know it. It would be best if you didn’t wait for me to return; you need your rest. Remember to eat your meals and not tire yourself out. You wouldn’t want me sick with worry now, would you? There’s no need for you to rush things on your end. I promise I’ll be back soon.”


  The two of them hugged like a lovesick couple, unable to part.

  Meanwhile, the three single men watching from the sidelines felt as if they had been ruthlessly kicked like a trio of stray dogs.

  Lan Qi pursed his lips, a strange emotion bubbling in his chest.

  President Ba was not surprised by the actions of the two lovebirds. It was ancient history as far as he was concerned. More importantly, he needed his sleep! Nestled in Lan Qi’s arms, President Ba dozed off.

  Ye Luo, stone-faced as ever, shifted his gaze towards the jet.

  Out of all his counterparts, Gu Yan was the most heavily affected.

  Perhaps it resulted from overstimulation, but Gu Yan was the first to board the jet.

  Ji Fei trailed after his young master unhurriedly.

  Following Gu Yan’s lead, Ye Luo boarded the jet.

  Lan Qi stared at the two people in front of him for a long time before asking, “Is the baby in Xiao Bao’s belly yours?”


  Fu Tingyu could not get enough of his wife’s delicate features, imagining the long nights he would have to spend without her. It was torture!

  Just as he was about to kiss his wife, Fu Tingyu heard Lan Qi’s question. With a frown etched on his face, he regarded Lan Qi coldly. The young man looked no older than sixteen – a teenager, through and through. He had no recollection of Lan Qi whatsoever.

  “She is my wife. The child in her belly is naturally mine.”


  Lan Qi’s lips drew a thin line. It was unclear what his thoughts were.

  Ye Luo waited in the jet for some time. Seeing as neither the Young Master of the Young Madam had boarded, he exited the plane. His timing was impeccable. Casually, he picked up President Ba by the scruff of his neck and said to Lan Qi, “Go up.” Ye Luo wasted no time, spinning on his heel as he returned to the aircraft with his charge in tow.

  Lan Qi failed to react in time. Before he could so much as protest, President Ba was carried away by Ye Luo. Lan Qi shot Fu Tingyu one last look before following Ye Luo on board.

  Now that they were alone, Fu Tingyu kissed Qin Shu on her lips.

  The love they shared burned hotter than the sun dipping over the horizon.

  –


  On the private jet…


  The moment he boarded the aircraft, Lan Qi saw Ye Luo holding onto President Ba with one hand; in his other hand was a bag of dried fish. Almost lazily, Ye Luo fed President Ba with small pieces of dried fish, one after another.

  President Ba ate the proffered tribute of dried fish with gusto. It had become a daily treat he indulged in and was one of the few reasons he bothered entertaining Ye Luo’s presence at all.