The day before Li Yaru was to depart for Hu Cheng, Zhuang Qiting summoned Zhuang Shaozhou to the Chairman’s office.
“You mom’s been fond of this Longjing tea lately. Try some,” Zhuang Qiting said as he sat by the tea table, beckoning Zhuang Shaozhou over and personally pouring him a cup.
Zhuang Shaozhou eyed his father’s unusually gentle expression with suspicion, slowing his steps. “Chairman, you didn’t just call me here for tea, did you?”
Zhuang Qiting kept his smile. “No ranks today, just a father and son having a heart-to-heart. Come, sit.”
He crossed his legs, reclining comfortably in his chair, his gaze warm and tone gentle. “Work going smoothly lately? Your position comes with many responsibilities, no doubt you’re busy. I went through the same, never complained. But you’re about to get engaged soon, so you should make time for Xiao Chen. Don’t let her think the Zhuang Family is arrogant. You’re a man—you need to know how to cherish your wife. Understand?”
“………………”
Goosebumps prickled over Zhuang Shaozhou’s skin as he drained the hot tea in one gulp. “Dad, you scare me like this. Just say what you want me to do.”
Zhuang Qiting chuckled. “You kid.” Then he shifted tone. “Actually, there is something I need to entrust you with.”
Zhuang Shaozhou exhaled in relief. At least there was a purpose; better that than the old man going mad for no reason.
“Let me be clear—if you want me to trick Madam Li out or get her to reconcile with you, I’m powerless. Last time I tried to get Madam Li out for dinner, she scolded me harshly.”
Zhuang Shaozhou didn’t understand why Madam Li got so angry. It was just a meal.
But Zhuang Qiting knew well enough. The dinner had been more than just food; there had been a serious quarrel between him and Li Yaru that night.
That wasn’t something he’d let this useless son find out.
“Watch your tone, Zhuang Shaozhou,” Zhuang Qiting said gravely.
A son is a son, even if the father slips up in the small things, the son still has to accept it.
Zhuang Qiting admitted he carried some outdated, feudal notions about the father-son relationship.
The son must dedicate himself to the harmony of the family.
Zhuang Shaozhou: “Oh.”
Zhuang Qiting: “I won’t waste words with you. The day after tomorrow, you fly to America to attend the Global Central Bank Joint Summit. You know how important this meeting is. Don’t cause trouble.”
Zhuang Shaozhou paused, a helpless laugh rising in his chest.
He had bluffed in front of that girl, refused to attend the Ruibo Centenary Event in Hu Cheng, and casually used the excuse of a business trip to America.
Now that the wolf really came, he was one thousand times unwilling to go, especially knowing that the girl would be living it up in Hu Cheng, while he had to deal with the old man…
His breath grew heavy. This trip to America next week meant many things would be out of his control.
“Such an important meeting is usually attended by you personally. Me going there? I’m just a kid to them. Pointless. I’m not going.”
Zhuang Qiting’s dark eyes blazed with authority. “Your role right now is to attend important occasions like this to sharpen your abilities. People who want to go but can’t are everywhere. Do you think this is something you can just push off?”
“Then you go.”
“I have other important matters.” Zhuang Qiting slammed down his teacup heavily. This useless son usually worked overtime without complaint—what’s with this stubbornness now?
“What matters?” Zhuang Shaozhou’s mind churned anxiously at the thought of being in America, having no control over Chen Weiqi.
“Something in Jingcheng needs my personal attention.” Zhuang Qiting spoke offhandedly, then realized he didn’t owe his son any explanations.
He adopted his usual authoritarian style and made a final decision, giving no room for excuses: “Zhuang Shaozhou, if you screw this up, forget about the Vice Chairman of the Board position tomorrow—I’ll veto it with a single vote.”
“……………”
Losing the Shenghui Board Vice Chairman position would only make Chen Weiqi look down on him more.
Zhuang Shaozhou gave his father a cold glare. He would remember this grudge.
There would be a chance to get Madam Li to help him get revenge.
*
Li Yaru was full of anticipation for her trip to Hu Cheng, having packed sixteen full boxes of luggage, bringing out many precious antique couture pieces she normally guarded carefully.
The worst enemy of fabric is dampness, mold, yellowing, and insects.
Her walk-in closet had 24-hour air conditioning, with special machines regulating humidity and oxygen levels.
During the wet season, a specialist would come weekly to manage it.
Many couture dresses over twenty years old remained perfectly preserved.
On the day of departure, Bram, the young assistant from Ruibo, arrived punctually with two aides to escort Li Yaru from the Ruibo Gallery.
This 1.87-meter-tall young man immediately caught Li Yaru’s eye.
She hadn’t expected a boy in luxury goods to be this handsome—he could easily model—and best of all, his words were sweeter than Ming’s or Kurt’s.
Li Yaru knew he was just after the money, but spending was fine since it all ended up benefiting her daughter-in-law.
Bram said, “Finally meeting you in person, Madam. I didn’t expect you to look so radiant! No wonder the rumor says true beauties never photograph well.”
Li Yaru smiled brightly. “Really? I also think I don’t photograph well. Will a photographer accompany us this time?”
“Of course, Madam. Once we land in Hu Cheng, I’ll follow you. Just tell her your photo preferences—she’s experienced, has worked with many celebrities.”
This trip to Hu Cheng was entirely arranged by Ruibo’s official team—flights, seats, hotel—everything was ready, just waiting for Li Yaru.
The flight was first class, with attentive flight attendants serving exquisite refreshments by Li Yaru’s side.
Bram and his assistants sat in the business cabin, separated by a curtain.
“Madam, we’re right behind you. Ring the bell if you need anything; I’ll come immediately.”
Bram kneeled by Li Yaru’s seat, carefully laying the tablecloth and wiping the utensils, even bringing a pair of soft slippers emblazoned with the Ruibo Brand Logo before returning to his cabin.
Li Yaru slipped off her heels, letting her bare feet swing lazily as she nestled into the spacious, soft airline sofa.
She wondered if Ruibo had booked the entire first-class cabin—no other passengers appeared until the announcement warned the cabin door was closing, and the curtain slowly pulled back.
A man wearing oversized sunglasses walked in, dressed in a fitted linen casual suit of bright white, exuding effortless, refined luxury.
Li Yaru paid no attention to other passengers, not even raising her eyes, absorbed in choosing a movie on her tablet.
“Sir, your seat is here,” a gentle, sweet-voiced flight attendant guided the newcomer.
The man strode steadily, passing right by Li Yaru’s seat, glancing briefly at her smooth, bare feet.
He then sat down behind her.
“We offer various Chinese teas, champagne, whiskey, red wine, plus juices, sodas, milk, sparkling water—what would you like?”
“What is the lady in front drinking?” came a low, mellow voice.
Li Yaru paused mid-movie selection. That voice…
The flight attendant answered, “She’s drinking lychee black tea.”
“I’ll have the same,” he said calmly.
Li Yaru took a deep breath, snapped her tablet shut, and sat upright, turning her upper body to meet the amused man’s gaze.
He looked completely at ease, tilting his head to size her up, hands clasped before him, a gold wedding band on his ring finger gleaming despite being worn for over twenty years.
“Zhuang Qiting!” Li Yaru’s vision darkened. Of course it was that persistent man. “Aren’t you flying to New York today?”
Zhuang Qiting smiled. “I’m flying to Hu Cheng first, then transferring to New York.”
“Yeah, right.” Li Yaru had a premonition that her perfectly planned Hu Cheng trip was about to be disrupted by Zhuang Qiting.
He stood and leaned over, pinching her chin and pressing a fleeting kiss to her lips before quickly pulling away.
“I mainly worried you’d miss me and have a lonely week. I’m willingly pushing back work to serve you. Happy?”
Li Yaru’s lips tingled with warmth and softness, tinged with his intense presence, like a spider’s web wrapping her.
She wasn’t sure whether to be angry or amused, staring at the persistently annoying man in front of her. “Which one of us misses whom more? You know that well enough.”
Zhuang Qiting smiled faintly. “Baby misses me, but I miss baby more.”
Li Yaru wanted to scream internally, wishing she could find something to cool down his pestering.
She glanced secretly at the flight attendant brewing tea in the nearby compartment—not surprisingly, Ada and Young Master Rui had already put on their headphones, pretending not to notice.
Fine, as long as everyone pretended this wasn’t awkward, she could too.
“Zhuang Qiting, I have events to attend these days. Don’t cling to me. We’re divorced—if we’re seen together, what will people think?”
“Oh, really?” The moment he heard ‘divorced,’ Zhuang Qiting’s face darkened.
The whole world knew he was chasing Li Yaru. The media had countless photos of them together, yet she stubbornly clung to ‘divorced, divorced, divorced.’
Sensing his displeasure, Li Yaru quickly calmed him down. “This is Weiwei’s turf. If rumors break out now, how do I explain it to Weiwei?”
“Xiao Chen is your daughter-in-law, and mine. For you, it’s her duty to contribute to the harmony of our family,” Zhuang Qiting said coldly.
He thought to himself, if this daughter-in-law had any spine, she’d be worth something—but no, she was just another loser!
Li Yaru wanted to pull her hair out. “Anyway, you can’t follow me.”
At that moment, Bram pulled back the curtain and came in holding a warm compress eye mask for Li Yaru’s rest.
Seeing Bram, Li Yaru quickly sat upright, composed and elegant, putting Zhuang Qiting out of her mind.
“What is it?” she asked, smiling at the handsome young assistant.
“Madam, this is a scented eye mask. If you need it, I brought it in advance.”
“Thank you! Leave it here. I’ll use it when I nap.”
Zhuang Qiting put his sunglasses back on, suppressing the sharpness in his eyes.
He watched this young man closely, and when everyone left, he stood and approached Li Yaru, cupping her face and forcing her to meet his gaze.
“Where did this pest come from?”
“……………”
Li Yaru laughed aloud. If no one were around, she’d have rolled on the floor laughing. “Stop being childish. Bram is from Ruibo to attend to me, not some pest—ugh, I’m embarrassing myself following you around. Zhuang Qiting, you’re Chairman of Shenghui Group. If this gets out, do you know how much your image will plummet? You embarrass yourself, but worse, you affect me and my son.”
Zhuang Qiting said coldly, “He’s flattering. Don’t you see? Ruibo sending a pest to serve you—is this Xiao Chen’s idea?”
The second son is useless, and so is his wife!
“What does that have to do with Weiwei? And it’s normal for someone in the hospitality business to flatter me. That’s his job. Besides, no matter how much of a pest he is, he’s not as pesty as you,” Li Yaru scoffed.
Zhuang Qiting was glad he came, glad he pushed the New York trip onto his son. If he had to endure a week surrounded by these pests, he’d grind his teeth in New York.
“I’m following you from now on,” Zhuang Qiting decided.
“I told you, you can’t follow me!” Li Yaru nearly wanted to pounce and bite him. “I have shows and banquets to attend. Everyone knows your face. How can you trail me? Zhuang Qiting, if you keep being disobedient, I won’t indulge you anymore!”
Li Yaru put on a stern face.
Zhuang Qiting controlled his breath, thinking quietly for several seconds until the plane announced final preparations for takeoff, asking passengers to fold their tray tables, fasten seatbelts, and close window shades.
He sat silently, and seeing him finally stop acting crazy, Li Yaru breathed a secret sigh of relief.
That old devil! Always making things difficult for her!
The plane took off smoothly into stable air currents. Just as Li Yaru was engrossed in her movie, one of her headphones was pulled off. She looked up, puzzled, to see Zhuang Qiting.
“What is it?”
“For the next few days, I’ll be your bodyguard or assistant. Whatever it is, I’m following you.”
“……………” Li Yaru was stunned.
*
Li Yaru thought Zhuang Qiting was joking, not taking it seriously. But he was dead serious.
First, he sent Bram away, somehow acquired a proper black suit. Although the fabric still felt high-end and silky, it looked plain and ordinary.
He wore a black mask, gold-rimmed glasses he usually only wore at work, and the suit was stripped of all adornments except a subtle deep blue tie and a Ruibo logo pinned at the lapel, matching the staff uniform.
He strode to Li Yaru’s side as if no one else was there and looked at her.
“Miss Li, I’m your assistant for today.” Zhuang Qiting’s voice from beneath the mask was like sandpaper—deep, thick, slightly rough.
Li Yaru: “……………”
She suppressed her shock, appraising the man before her. She could hardly recognize the once lionized, constantly flattered, grandiose Zhuang Qiting.
Her fingers fidgeted helplessly with the intricate skirt hem embroidered with golden feathers.
Today she was attending a show, dressed lavishly. Zhuang Qiting in his steady, resolute black suit formed a sharp contrast.
“You… you… sure?” Li Yaru stammered, reaching out to touch his forehead—no fever.
They had been passionate last night; it wasn’t possible he was already… eager again.
Zhuang Qiting gently took her hand, calmly said, “Miss Li, please maintain decorum.
There will be media outside; you don’t want any strange photos, do you?”
Li Yaru: “……………”
Ada and Young Master Rui exchanged helpless looks. Rui wished he could bury himself in the ground.
What were Madam and Mister up to? He couldn’t understand them more and more.
With five minutes left before departure, Li Yaru had no choice but to glare angrily at Zhuang Qiting, then compose herself elegantly, holding her skirt as she gracefully stepped out of the hotel suite.
Zhuang Qiting cleared his throat, lifted his glasses slightly, and watched Li Yaru’s dazzling figure.
He felt his decision was more than right and was filled with a secret thrill and delight.
This was quite interesting. He’d never had the chance to observe his beautiful wife from such a perspective at a public event.
He squinted. Looks like this could become a regular thing.
A black Bentley waited outside the Hu Cheng Star Top Hotel, where a throng of photographers waited, flashing wildly as Li Yaru appeared.
“Miss Li! Miss Li! Look this way!”
Bodyguards blocked the photographers. Zhuang Qiting courteously led Li Yaru to the car, respectfully opened her door, and with his strong, well-defined hands shielded her from the cameras.
Li Yaru smiled brightly but felt nervous inside. As she got in, she glanced sideways at this solemn man and suddenly wanted to laugh.
He was always crazier than she imagined.
After seeing her into the car, Zhuang Qiting nonchalantly circled to the other side, closed the door, and blocked out the prying flashes.
He pulled up the curtain and lowered the partition. His tall, upright body leaned over, pressing her into the seat.
Not daring to touch her delicate makeup, he restrained his breath, his eyes behind his lenses weaving around her like silk threads.
Li Yaru laughed. “Big Boss Zhuang, are you addicted to cosplay now?”
Zhuang Qiting exhaled without replying to her teasing, pinched a plump grapefruit-like curve of hers, and warned lowly, “Little pest, no staring at handsome men later.”
“I’ll be staring at you.”
His quiet words carried a hint of grievance.
Li Yaru laughed until her stomach hurt. “Zhuang Qiting, you’re crazy, really crazy. Seeing you like this, it’s so funny—I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold back my laughter later—”
Zhuang Qiting gritted his teeth, lifted the high slit of her skirt, bent down, and bit into her in a hidden spot.