By evening, a funeral hall had been set up at Lu Manor and Papa Lu’s obituary release. Every friend and family of the Lu family arrived to mourn him.

  Mu Qiqi stood beside Lu Qianqian, watching her as she stood in a black dress beside the coffin and bowing to the guests with Mama Lu.

  Soon, Sheng Xiao arrived as well, and lit incense with Mu Qiqi for Papa Lu.

  “Thank you, Crown Prince.” Lu Qianqian bowed to Sheng Xiao in gratitude.

  “Just give a shout whenever you need help.

  “Thanks.”


  Mu Qiqi’s eyes became red when she saw Lu Qianqian’s tears flowing endlessly—it was a second monumental change to Lu Qianqian’s life.

  Seeing that his little one was tearing up, Sheng Xiao took her by the waist to get some fresh air outside the funeral hall.

  Soon, Lin Mu’an arrived at the Lu Manor too.

  “Qiqi, Crown Prince.”


  “Qianqian is inside…… she’s very worn.” Mu Qiqi told Lin Mu’an. “Mama Lu told me in the afternoon that the uncles of the Lu family have their eyes on Lu Holdings, and there is no man in their family now. I called you back in hopes that you could help Qianqian a little, or are you two going to be friends for the rest of your lives?”


  Lin Mu’an took off his colored jacket at her words and flung it on the ground.

  “I would be her pillar if she needs me.” He said without hesitating.

  On his way here, there had been a storm in his heart that would not calm down, clenching whenever he thought about his little pepper losing her father and leaving him unable to breathe.

  Mu Qiqi said nothing else, and let him go in to help.

  After all, she thought that Lu Qianqian might tell Lin Mu’an things she would not necessarily tell herself.

  Lin Mu’an nodded and entered the funeral hall, his tears almost flowing the moment he and Lu Qianqian set eyes on each other.

  She came to him in disbelief. “Why did you come back?”


  “Why don’t you tell me when something so important happened, brat?” Lin Mu’an retorted, taking her hand. “Can’t I be trusted just because I’m not free from the Lin family yet?”


  “It happened so sudden and you were at a competition…… I didn’t want you to ruin your future because of me.”


  “Screw the future—I could win more in the future. I’m sure I won’t lose in anything I do with the will I have now. The most important thing at the moment is to see off Papa Lu. You and your mother should take care and rest up. Leave the other matters and arrangements to me.”


  Lu Qianqian nodded tearfully, her tears flowing once more without knowing it.

  “Everyone says that true feelings are born from hardship. I think this is the greatest challenge for them…… anyway, I can’t do anything more for Qianqian now, Xiao Xiao. We’ll just have to send a few people here to watch over the three of them and stop others from starting trouble, okay?”


  Sheng Xiao nodded. “You should stop crying too. Mother would be asking questions if you go home with those red eyes.”


  “I can’t help it. I’m worried about Qianqian and her mother’s future.”


  ***

  Ever since Gu Ziling learned that Sheng Kai was infertile, her behavior towards him changed a little. She simply did not know how to face a man who could not even give her a child, nor did she know where do they go from here.

  But with Sheng Kai was caught in his own rage and misery, he did not pick up on Gu Ziling’s feelings.

  They might still be sleeping together, but what was the phrase?

  They were a couple sharing the same bed, but dreamt different dreams.

  Once again, Sheng Xiao’s might had left the Sheng family clouded in gloom. But just as Third Brother had said, what really danced over Old Sheng and Sheng Kai’s heads were their own discontent and refusal to accept reality, and not pressure from Sheng Xiao.

  But through it all, Third Brother was not reinstated nor did anyone care how he felt, because he was a traitor in both the old man and Sheng Kai’s perspectives now.

  They were certain that he knew about Sheng Xiao, but did not tell the family about it.

  Third Brother did not get angry over such a mater.

  However, just as he packed his things and prepared to leave the country, Old Sheng swore that he would not let anyone else leave the family.

  Third Brother wanted to leave? There would not even a door for him.

  “Since you’re not letting me leave or work, is this your way of telling me that I’m a prisoner?” Third Brother asked the old man. “Can’t you just release me as if I was just a fart?”


  “I’ll give you freedom when you really act in the family’s interest.”


  Knowing what the old man was getting at, Third Brother smashed up his mobile phone. “My phone is now gone and I can’t contact Eighth Brother. Believe me now?”


  “It’s not like I’m stopping you from contacting him, but……”


  “You would rather I steal his secrets, yes?” Third Brother smirked. “I’m going back to my room.”


  ‘When had this family became this twisted?’ He could not help thinking.

  Though he really did not want to resort to such a move, but he jumped out of the window in the middle of the night to escape the Sheng residence.

  He found his grandfather as pitiable as he was maniacal, as if those worthy of sympathy would have something despicable about them.

  Either way, without any place to go, Third Brother had to go to Sheng Xiao wretchedly.

  However, neither Sheng Xiao nor Mu Qiqi were at home because of Lu Qianqian.

  Mama Sheng greeted Third Brother, and when he saw that he was not wearing shoes, he passed him Sheng Xiao’s shoes. “Your escape was a little too ragged.”


  “I jumped out a window, Eldest Aunt.”


  “Losing personal freedom now, too?” Mama Sheng was utterly shocked.

  Third Brother chuckled bitterly but did not answer, because he really did not have any human dignity left.

  “You could take the guest room tonight. Sheng Xiao and Qiqi are attending the funeral of a friend’s father and not home yet.”


  “Who?”


  “Have you heard of the Lu family? Their daughter is Qiqi’s best friend, and her father died suddenly to a myocardial infarction today.”


  Third Brother became quiet at that. “You don’t have to look after me, Eldest Aunt. I’ll wait for them to come home in the living room—you and Eldest Uncle should rest.”


  He had indeed heard about certain scandals about the young lady of the Lu family, and her reputation was not ideal.

  However, anyone who could be friends with Xiao Qi would not be bad.

  ***

  Mu Qiqi and Sheng Xiao only left the Lu Manor at one in the morning.

  There was no one else in the funeral hall now.

  It was only then that Mama Lu thanked Lin Mu’an when she saw him busying around. “Thank you, Mu’an. Only you and Qiqi would remember my daughter and me at such a time.”


  “Madam, Qianqian is my best friend and her father had been nice to me, so it’s what I should do. Anyway, I’ll hold vigil—you two should sleep since there’s another busy day tomorrow. You shouldn’t be exhausted.”