Qin Shu vowed she would never give Fu Tingyu a massage again. She did not want to set herself up just as she had done so.

  Fu Tingyu knew every inch of her body. He knew how to make her cry out in pleasure and pain.

  He knew her weak spots and what would make her beg for mercy.

  It was not until midnight that Fu Tingyu stopped tormenting Qin Shu, hugging her to sleep with a self-satisfied smile.

  –


  The next day…


  Qin Shu only woke when the sun reached its zenith. The space beside her was empty. Fu Tingyu had already left.

  Recalling the events that occurred the previous night, she sighed. “Tingyu was in good spirits… His physical condition has improved.”


  Fortunately, she had booked an afternoon flight, or she would have missed the plane.

  After breakfast, Qin Shu went to look for Xiao Jiu.

  She found Xiao Jiu in the backyard, crouching in the horse stance.

  It was part of his daily routine, and he could now hold that position for an incense stick’s worth of time.

  President Ba sat on his haunches atop the stone table housed in the pavilion, eyeing Xiao Jiu curiously. When he caught sight of his mistress, he hopped off his perch and dashed towards her.

  “Meow!”


  Qin Shu gave President Ba a fond smile. He had always been like this. Though several years had passed since she got him, President Ba was still the same as ever. She had her doubts about President Ba’s seeming timelessness, but she always shelved them in the end.

  Xiao Jiu noticed his mother’s appearance and called out happily, “Mommy.”


  Qin Shu took a seat by the stone table. The bench she sat on was laden with cushions stuffed with goose feathers, soft and warm.

  She glanced at the stone table. Four-fifths of the incense stick had already burned. Xiao Jiu could rest in a while.

  Turning her attention to Xiao Jiu, she wheedled her son gently, “Mommy is going abroad in the afternoon. I’ll be back in five days. You stay at home and be good for Mommy, okay?”


  Xiao Jiu maintained his horse stance and did not move. He asked, “Can’t Mommy bring me along? I promise I’ll be good! I won’t cause any trouble.”


  Xiao Jiu seldom took the initiative to follow her. Perhaps it was because he was older and liked to see new things.

  “Do you really want to tag along? It won’t be all fun and games; Mommy’s going there to run some errands.”


  Xiao Jiu nodded vigorously. “Yes, I want to go with Mommy.”


  Qin Shu mulled over her son’s request. She was not planning on doing anything dangerous. It should be fine for Xiao Jiu to go with her.

  She could not bear to reject him – not when he behaved so sensibly.

  “What about school? Don’t you want to spend time with your friends? If you go with Mommy, you won’t see them for at least a week.”


  “I know everything the teacher teaches. It’s boring! I’m not going to miss anything, even if I miss a few days of school. I want to spend time with Mommy!” Xiao Jiu answered seriously.

  Her son’s words struck a chord. Giggling, she said, “Mommy would not know what she would do without you either.”


  “Then… Does that mean I can go with Mommy?” Xiao Jiu asked, hopeful.

  Qin Shu smiled gently. “Of course, you can come with me. My Xiao Jiu is so obedient. How could I bear to disappoint you?”


  “Mommy’s the best!” Xiao Jiu nearly jumped with joy. If it were not for the fact that time was not up, he would have buried himself in his mother’s arms.

  Qin Shu helped Xiao Jiu with his luggage once she had decided to allow him to follow her.

  Xiao Jiu packed everything his mother picked out for him, bringing even the remote-controlled plane his father had bought for him.

  Besides Xiao Jiu, Qin Shu had Ye Luo and President Ba accompany her. They would watch over him while she was busy.

  Qin Shu dressed in men’s clothing for convenience’s sake. The outfit she chose was similar to the one she wore to Qingyun Manor.

  Xiao Jiu took a few seconds to recognize his mother when she walked out of the master bedroom. Stunned, he asked, “Mommy, why are you wearing your brother’s clothes?”


  Qin Shu wore a black hoodie over a plain shirt with matching pants. With her hair hidden under her hoodie and her immaculate features, no one would have known she was a woman and mother of a young child.

  In her present get up, Qin Shu gave off the image of a sunny and handsome young man.

  She bent down to look at her son and instructed, “You should call your mother Mommy at home, but when we’re out, you should call me Big Brother, okay?”


  Although Xiao Jiu found his mother’s instructions puzzling, he did not ask for an explanation. He knew there must have been a good reason for his mother to do what she was doing.

  “Okay, Mommy.”


  Qin Shu held her son’s hand. “Let’s go.”


  –


  The plane arrived at Nan Yue at four in the afternoon the next day.

  Yun Yao told Seymour to pick him up.

  It appeared that Young Master Ling had brought a bodyguard and a little boy with him. In the boy’s arms was a black cat.

  “Young Master Ling, who is this boy?”


  Xiao Jiu gripped Qin Shu’s hand tightly and answered before his mother had a chance to respond. “I’m his younger brother.”


  Surprise flashed in Seymour’s eyes. “Ah, so it’s Young Master Ling’s younger brother. Please follow me to the car.”


  Qin Shu held her son’s hand and got into the car. Ye Luo sat in the passenger seat.

  Seymour said, “I believe Young Master Ling already knows what the problem is. There has been another breach in Qingyun Manor’s security. My master hopes you’ll be able to catch the perpetrator.”


  “I’ll try my best, ” was all Qin Shu said upon learning of what had happened at Qingyun Manor.

  She spoke in the same tone as she had the first time they met. It was Low-key and modest, but not subservient. “Then I’ll have to trouble young Master Ling.”


  –


  Two hours later, at Qingyun Manor…


  Yun Yao personally received them.

  “I’ve asked someone to prepare breakfast. Young Master Ling should rest after the meal. I know how long the journey must have been for you to arrive so soon.”


  Qin Shu did not refuse Yun Yao’s hospitality. She was quite tired after the long flight to Nan Yue.

  She would need all her faculties if she hoped to catch the culprits responsible for the breach in Qingyun Manor. Being sleep-deprived would only hamper her abilities.

  The courtyard Yun Yao arranged for them was not very large. It was smaller than the one she and Fu Tingyu had had.

  The food arrived shortly.

  Qin Shu led Xiao Jiu to a seat at the table and sat down. Just as she picked up her chopsticks, she noticed Ye Luo standing to one side with President Ba in his arms. She smiled, gesturing to an empty chair, “Sit down and join us. While we’re here, you don’t need to stand on ceremony.”


  Xiao Jiu also turned to look at Ye Luo. “Uncle Ye, let’s eat together. We should rest for a bit after breakfast.”


  Ye Luo remained hesitant, President Ba nestled in his arms. It went against propriety. It just was not done.

  Xiao Jiu could see Ye Luo’s inner conflict and hopped off his chair, going up to the uncertain man with his hand outstretched. “Uncle Ye, let’s eat together. After we have a good rest, you can teach me martial arts.”


  Just like that, Ye Luo was pulled to the dining table by Xiao Jiu. President Ba leapt out of Ye Luo’s arms and settled himself on the chair adjacent to his human chauffeur, anxiously waiting for Ye Luo to prepare his meal.

  Ye Luo was well aware of President Ba’s preferences, having spent a lot of time with the nefarious cat. He rolled his eyes, knowing President Ba’s intentions. It was almost second nature to him by now.

  Ye Luo gave in once seated at the table. He picked up a fish and placed it in a clean bowl for President Ba.

  “Meow,” President Ba meowed at Ye Luo and dug into his meal.

  Breakfast passed quietly. After which, Qin Shu tucked Xiao Jiu in bed.

  Ye Luo and President Ba rested in the room next door.

  Once she was sure Xiao Jiu was sound asleep, Qin Shu exited the room and went to her own.

  She sent a message to Chao Yan before taking her nap.

  [ Qin Shu: Has an antidote been administered? ]

  A message caught her attention just as she was about to sleep. It was a reply from Chao Yan.

  [ Chao Yan: Are you in Nan Yue? ]

  Questions filled Qin Shu’s mind. No one knew she was in Nan Yue except for them. How did Chao Yan know?

  [ Qin Shu: How did you know I’m in Nan Yue? ]