Lu Qianqian really kept her word. No matter how busy she was, she would make time and bring chicken legs with her when she visited Lin Mu’an at the police academy on weekends.

  Nonetheless, she suddenly giggled when she saw Lin Mu’an in uniform.

  “Hold on, what?” Lin Mu’an studied himself, bemused.

  “I’m just not used to you looking so serious.” Lu Qianqian smiled, holding a hand over her lips. “But truth be told, you look better than you look in a suit.”


  “But of course.” Lin Mu’an replied—he at least had that little bit of pride. “Still, I returned with poor timing… the academy is soon having a break.”


  “Anyway, got your chicken legs. Training must be hard.”


  Hard? That was the least of it.

  Lin Mu’an rolled up his sleeves then, revealing his heavily bruised arms. “It is hard, but I’m happy. Thank you for the chicken legs—canteen food is really not that awesome.”


  Mu Qianqian watched as Lin Mu’an gobbled down the chicken legs, before drawing out a small box and handing it to him.

  “What’s that?”


  “A safety charm.” Lu Qianqian explained. “It’s often said that police live in the danger zone. So, here’s to hoping you live up to a hundred years old.”


  Lin Mu’an grinned and quickly accepted the box.

  “Chairwoman, it’s time you study hard and don’t fall behind me.”


  “This young lady is smart and intelligent. Unlike you, scumbag.”


  Although they squabbled as they usually did, the physical trials that Lin Mu’an suffered through in the academy evaporated immediately with Lu Qianqian’s visit. As he returned inside the hostel, he sprawled himself on his bed as he opened her gift, carefully taking out the safety charm inside and hanging it over his neck.

  “I’ll definitely grow up and become a friend who can protect you.”


  For her part, Lu Qianqian worked harder in her studies thanks to Lin Mu’an’s encouragement.

  She couldn’t keep licking her wounds when everyone else is improving themselves.

  ***

  Over the last few days, Mu Qiqi had gone on field work with her tutor, returning home every day with different scents.

  Since the scents latched on to hairs, there was no preventing those smells that lingered no matter how you wash it.

  Tonight, Old Sheng had called everyone in the Sheng family home for dinner, although his intention was to come up with a solution to bring Sheng Minglan home.

  Nonetheless, Mu Qiqi couldn’t attend because the smells swirling around her was unbearable.

  “Xiao Xiao, I’m skipping out this time. The old man wouldn’t want me at the family dinner anyway, let’s not give him an excuse to make a fuss with how I smell.”


  Sheng Xiao merely wrapped his arms around her and lifted her chin. “There’s no smell.”


  “There is. You and your rose-tinted glasses might defend me, but the Sheng family won’t be that accommodating.”


  Sheng Xiao said nothing. He merely freed her and went to the study to make a call.

  There was no need for him to go since Qi’er was not going.

  He even went on to notify Jing Yun, “Get France’s best perfumer. I want to meet in the next few days.”


  After all, he would not want his little one to become disgusted with herself over such a trifle.

  ***

  Meanwhile, the Sheng family were already sat around their dinner table, although Sheng Xiao and Mu Qiqi’s seats were empty.

  Grandpa Sheng looked around before asking Mama Sheng, “What’s going on?”


  “Sheng Xiao just called. He is going outstation soon, and wouldn’t be coming tonight.”


  “He really is looking down on me ever since he became CEO of Huang Yao. But even if he’s not here, where’s Mu Qiqi?”


  Wasn’t that a rhetorical question? And isn’t it obvious that he wanted to humiliate Mu Qiqi, asking her to come without Sheng Xiao?

  “Father, you should tell us what you want to say.” Mama Sheng quickly changed the subject.

  “Seventh Sister has been missing for some time and nowhere to be seen, which means the only child of this generation left is Fourth Sister. Sure, she still doesn’t want to come home but that was because of Seventh Sister—now that Seventh Sister is away, think of something to bring Fourth Sister home.”


  That being said, none of the Sheng daughters would want to live in the prison that was their own home.

  And since Fourth Sister had already tasted the freedom outside, why would she come back?

  “Father, you promised Fourth Sister before that you wouldn’t interfere with her life. It won’t end well if you go back on your word.”


  After all, considering that the old man had tried trick after trick against Sheng Xiao only to lose his presidency of Huang Yao and ten percent of the company’s stocks, he would lose even more if he provoked Fourth Sister now.

  “She is a daughter of the Sheng family in the end. I won’t interfere with who she marries as long as she comes back.”


  Though the old man’s words were kind, how would he not protest if he really found out that Sheng Minglan was with Jing Yun now?

  Naturally, no one in the Sheng family knew about that.

  “Xiao Qin, I’ll leave this matter in your hands. I want the family staying together.”


  Mama Sheng had no choice but to nod. “I’ll do my best.”


  Of course, wouldn’t it be better that Mama Sheng knows instead of the old man?

  Therefore, early in the next morning, Mama Sheng visited Sheng Minglan’s company so that she wouldn’t bother her and could meet her before work hours.

  However, when she was about to alight from her own car in the car park when she saw Sheng Minglan’s car drove in, she saw Jing Yun coming out of the driver’s seat first, and then went around the car to open the door for Sheng Minglan.

  They were holding hands and their body signals intimate.

  Mama Sheng did a double take, suspecting that her eyes were playing tricks on her.

  And so she quickly got off her car and followed them, eventually spying that they kissed before entering the building…


  Holding her hand over her mouth, Mama Sheng promptly returned to her car.

  What was going on?

  Why was Jing Yun together with Fourth Sister?

  With many questions in her mind, Mama Sheng called Sheng Xiao’s phone—but he was in the bathroom, so Mu Qiqi answered.

  “Mom? Xiao Xiao is washing up…”


  “Qiqi, tell Mom… do you know Fourth Sister’s secret?” Mama Sheng asked directly.

  Stunned, Mu Qiqi’s body stiffened. “Mom…”


  “So you do know. I just saw them being very close in front of her company building… these kids are getting bold, don’t they know what would happen if the old man knew?”


  “Mom, don’t tell Grandpa, okay? Fourth Sister just became a little happy, she…”


  “Of course I would help her keep it a secret if could. But marrying is a matter of a lifetime, don’t you think your grandfather wouldn’t know?” Mama Sheng sound beside herself with anxiety. “I saw them come to work early in the morning together… how far have they gone?”


  “Living…”


  Even if Mu Qiqi only uttered one word, Mama Sheng understood.

  But that was when Sheng Xiao took back his phone and told Mama Sheng, “I’ll handle it, Mom. You don’t have to do anything.”