"I'll try," Iris whispered while pressing herself closer to her husband.
She inhaled his scent and felt instantly comforted. His arms were sturdy and his presence stable. He was her firm anchor whenever her past life threatened to unbalance her current life.
At first, Jin Liwei thought that his wife would feel repulsed by the grand piano and the tragic memories related to it. He was surprised to find that she reacted much better this time than when she previously encountered the Smoking Devil at René Alejandro's birthday party.
Then he soon sensed her yearning for the grand piano.
"You want it?" he asked.
Iris didn't reply.
There was no need for her to say anything. He already knew the answer based on her expression alone.
"I'll get it for you," he told her.
She looked at him. There was a glimmer of excitement in her eyes which lasted for only a second before helpless resignation set in. She shook her head.
"No, darling. It's too dangerous. We already got the Smoking Devil at a charitable auction, so our acquisition of it is in the public records. Although the true origins of the Vetrov treasures have been changed for reselling, I'm sure that those who looted them back then know the truth. If someone discovers that we're trying to collect other Vetrov treasures, it's going to alarm a lot of enemies. They're bound to investigate whether we have any connection to the Vetrovs or not. We're going to end up kicking a deadly hornet's nest that way."
Jin Liwei brushed a lock of her silky, black hair away from her face. "But you still want the grand piano."
Her eyes reddened but she didn't cry this time. She sighed again.
"It's fine, darling. I'm fine. Really. It's just a piano."
They were interrupted when Little Mochi started wailing.
Iris immediately got up to find out what their eldest twin son wanted. It turned out that the fussy baby needed a diaper change. Before Iris could do it, Jin Liwei took over the task. He was already an expert in changing diapers. His expression didn't show any disgust although his nose twitched a few times.
Later, Iris took a nap in their bedroom while Huang Yuyan stayed with the twins at the nursery room. Jin Liwei changed into his home clothes, kissed his sleeping wife, and then headed to the living area of their suite.
He called a few people in his contact list.
All of them had one thing in common.
They were all living abroad and each of them owed him a favour.
"It's me, Liam. I want to acquire an item sold at an underground auction but I don't want my name to be associated with the transaction in any way. I'll pay top price plus a generous commission fee for you if you can persuade the current owner to sell the item. If you do this for me, I'll write off the favour you owe me."
After the phone calls, Jin Liwei contemplated whether to inform his brother-in-law about it or not. His priority was getting the grand piano for his wife but he wasn't sure if she or Lu Zihao, no, Nikolai wanted the other Vetrov items as well.
His wife had no deep attachments to her past life but his brother-in-law did. He knew that Nikolai desired revenge upon all enemies of the Vetrovs. Jin Liwei worried that revealing the existence of these items might trigger his brother-in-law into doing something foolish and dangerous.
In the end, he made still made a decision.
"Bacon, tell your Uncle Zihao about your mom's findings today. Remind him not to do anything stupid."
"Understood, Father. Bacon will go inform Uncle Zihao now."
Jin Liwei leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes, sighing. He wasn't sure if he did the right thing by telling his brother-in-law. However, he already learned from firsthand experience with his wife that keeping important secrets to people close to him could also be considered a form of betrayal depending on the situation.
If not for his determination to win back his wife after confessing his role in causing the death of the original Long Xiulan, he might not have the wonderful family that he had right now.
His brother-in-law had a similar situation with his wife. Nikolai now occupied the body of Lu Zihao, Jin Liwei's fifth brother.
Jin Liwei felt that his brother-in-law deserved to know about the existence of the Vetrov items. He just hoped that the remnant of his Fifth Brother Lu Zihao would be able to somehow persuade the bloodthirsty Nikolai to handle the situation with extreme caution.
"The ball is in your court now, Nikolai. You're going to become a father soon. Don't be reckless."
###
"Say that again!" Lu Zihao demanded with a dark expression.
The black cat swished his tail and replied in his usual bored voice. "Father is finding a way to buy Mother's grand piano that she owned when she was still Evelina Vetrova. He asks if Uncle Zihao wants the other Vetrov treasures as well."
"Show me your findings."
Bacon sent his uncle the summarized results of the investigations he did with his mother and sister earlier.
Lu Zihao viewed it on a tablet.
He was currently in the bedroom he shared with his wife. He was completely naked with his hair still dripping with water from the shower. He had finished his daily training regimen with his subordinates and the mansion's security staff at the on-site training grounds. He originally planned on looking for his wife and spending time with her after showering.
At this hour, Long Jinjing should be taking her daily walk in the gardens outside the mansion with Jiang Ying Yue.
Unfortunately, his plan to spend time with her had to be put on hold after hearing Bacon's words.
Lu Zihao's eyes flashed with a strong murderous intent.
All the items showed in his sister and her AI children's investigation results indeed belonged to the Vetrovs.
"Damn thieving bastards!"
He threw the tablet. It bounced on the bed. He sneered.
"Dare to profit off the Vetrovs? Just wait.. You tried sending me to hell back then. This time, I'll drag you all to hell with me and we'll all burn in eternal fire together!"
