Huo Shen’s request in the cemetery made both Serena and Huo Xiao Fan speechless. Huo Xiao Fan asked for some time to think about it.
If it had been in her hands, she would have jumped on the chance and gone with Huo Shen, but she had divorced him.
And she clearly remembered the condition. She did that in exchange for Jinhai letting go of Huo Corps. Huo Corps was the result of Huo Shen’s hard work and sweat.
What if Jinhai attacks it again if they reconciled?
So she simply asked for some time.
Outside the cemetery, Serena was slowly walking when she received a message.
Her eyes popped out.
Nana?
It was the first time after months when she was texting her.
She quickly opened it.
‘Happy Birthday.
Don’t overthink about it. Be happy and stay safe for the baby inside you.’
Serena let out a soft chuckle and then burst into laughter while a single tear kissed her cheek.
It may sound obligatory and forced, but Serena was still able to feel a little bit of emotion in it. She could picture Nana, thinking hard of what to text so that it didn’t seem that she cared about her.
But Nana wasn’t never really good at lying. Even through the message, she sensed her warmth and love.
She quickly replied.
‘Thank you, Nana. Of course, I don’t dare to think anything more about it. Aye, aye, mam! I will be happy as you ordered.’
She giggled.
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
She saw Huo Liwei behind her and smiled. “Big brother…after so long, I feel good. I feel that things will slowly but surely fall in place one day.”
Liwei stared at her and nodded. He hesitated but still softly patted her head.
He slowly took out a small box wrapped in a gift paper. “This…for you.”
Serena beamed in joy. She was about to open it excitedly but Liwei just spilled it in anxiety.
“It’s just a bracelet.”
“…”
She looked at him speechlessly. “Why did you spoil it!”
Liwei was embarrassed. “I racked my brains but couldn’t think of anything special. So I already told you to get disappointed ahead of time.”
Serena was speechless again. “I am not disappointed, brother. Anything you give me makes me happy. I don’t care if it looks simple or is cheap. Your feelings matter the most to me.”
She opened it and took out the bracelet. It was a thin and beautiful bracelet studded with small diamonds designed in the shape of a wave.
By no means was it cheap or simple or ‘just a bracelet.’ Its cost was surely in millions. And in dollars.
She put it on her wrist and exclaimed. “It’s beautiful! I love it.” She hugged him. “Thank you, brother. It means a lot to me.”
Liwei stiffened, but then a soft smile emerged on his lips. “Y-you really like it?”
Personally, he felt it was still cheap. He didn’t have much knowledge about fashion and jewelry either, so he really doubted his choice.
“Yes. I do. But really…you don’t have to splurge so much in my gift.”
“Birthdays come once in a year and yours…we haven’t celebrated it ever so lavishly. This much was the least I could do.”
She sighed.
Then her phone buzzed. She took it out and was shocked to see that it was Chen Guiren.
Why would he call so suddenly?
“Hello?” she was a little nervous.
“Hello, Serena.” His voice was low and unhurried like always but still exuded an aura of command nonetheless.
“Yes, Mr. Chen.”
Liwei was surprised too. He tried to listen to their conversation.
“If it’s not too much, then can I ask you to come to Chen Corps? We are looking into a deal and would like your expertise in interior design.”
“Eh?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t explain anything further. He was a man of few words.
“B-but I don’t work right now…”
“Doesn’t matter.”
Serena felt a sense of pressure on her. She sweated.
“There are o-other good interior designers too. With my current situation, your client wouldn’t be satisfied…”
Silence.
Serena panicked. She gulped hard with that silence stretching to an awkward length of time.
Did I offend him? Damn! But I am saying it for his own company’s good. They wouldn’t like jobless woman advice about a billion-dollar deal.
He softly spoke. “I see. I understand.”
She felt relieved.
Thank God!
“I am troubling you. I am sorry.”
His tone was still low, but this time, it felt a bit lonely, like how a child was guilty of doing something wrong.
Serena coughed hard, hearing his apology.
The great Chen Guiren is apologizing!?
“No, no, no, Mr. Chen! You are not troubling me at all!”
How can Chen Guiren trouble anybody? People were dying to get just one chance to talk to him.
“I-I am just around the corner. I will come right now, okay?”
But please don’t use that pitiful tone on me, okay? Serena cried inwardly. I was this close to getting a heart attack!
“Really? Thank you.” She felt his voice go back to normal.
Finally, the tension eased up after the call.
Liwei heard everything. “Will you really go?”
“I have to. I couldn’t decline his request.”
“What if Chen Jianyu is there too? I don’t want him insulting or hurting you.” He pursed his lips. He was anxious for his little sister.
“I-I don’t think he would be there. Mr. Chen obviously knows the situation. It would be too awkward.”
“…Alright.”
—
Fifteen minutes later, Serena reached Chen Corps. She knocked on the door of the CEO’s office, holding her tummy. She heard a voice.
“Come in.”
Serena slowly opened the door, entered, and closed the door behind her.
“Hello, Mr. Chen-“
But she stood rooted in shock to see Jianyu in front of her, who was sitting on his seat like a king, flipping unhurriedly through the documents.
He raised his head and was equally stunned to see her.
“You…”
