Present time…
The wall clock ticked like the timer on a bomb. No one could stop it, reverse it, or slow it down. Each tick dragged Shen Xue forward, helpless and nervous to the allotted time.
He knew he could no more avoid it than the beating of his own heart as it pounded with futility against his ribcage. The dread was like his brother, a demon waiting for him; and he could only hear the loud pounding of his heartbeat.
Cold sweat started to form on his skin, and Shen Xue became pale, and then the tremor in his hands began. His head becomes a little giddy, and his stomach nauseous. All he could do was wait and try to defend himself from his own brother.
“Bro, calm down. I can explain…” Shen Xue started, but his brother’s cold glare that was enough to freeze the Pacific Ocean made him stop.
Gosh. How the hell did he find out? Shen Xue thought. He made sure to tell Secretary Chang not to tell his brother about his ‘visitor’. Did his brother hear the rumors about the young prince stealing the hearts of their female employees?
“Yes, you should explain. Explain to me what did you just do to my wife?”
Shen Xue shivered. He blotted his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief. Did he really step out of the line this time? He was desperate and hadn’t really thought if seeking his Big Sis’ help was really a good idea.
Lu Xinyi rubbed her throbbing temples. These two…
While she didn’t mind helping her brother-in-law, she was worried about how her husband would take it, knowing how jealous and possessive he was.
Shen Xue pleaded to his Big Sis for help, but she ignored him. Heh, the deal was already completed; now, Shen Xue just earned a favor from the little devil that he could never decline.
Someone called from the outside. Secretary Chang took a peek from the slightly opened door and called out his Second Master.
“Master Xue, Chairman is looking for you.”
Like an excited child that was saved from being reprimanded, Shen Xue’s face brightened up. He quickly ran towards the door and pulled his assistant with him.
‘Wooohhhhh! Saved by the bell!’ He rejoiced from the sudden help he received from their father, but he knew deep down that he would have to face his brother sooner or later. Maybe it’s time for him to arrange his own funeral services while he still had time?
Lu Xinyi’s mouth hung open as she watched her brother-in-law run for his life.
‘Shen Xue, you ass! Just wait until I can get my favor from you!’ she growled to herself.
It took several seconds for her to realize that she was stuck alone in the same room with her husband, who was staring at her like a predator that stalked its prey. Once she realized her mistake, Lu Xinyi stepped backward, trying to avoid Shen Yi’s stalking eyes.
“Ahh, he ran away. Such a pity, I cannot skin him alive.”
Dread creeps down her spine like a careful spider leaving a trail of silk. Lu Xinyi felt the goosebumps on her skin, the hair at the back of her neck bristling. Shen Yi stalked forward until she was almost frozen to the spot and trapped against a wall.
“Xinxin…” Shen Yi called her name but paused, “No, Brother Fei…” He tested the name on his tongue and thought he liked it but not as much as his wife’s name.
“You’ve been a good brother to Xue. Should I give you compensation?” His right hand lifted up to touch her face, but Lu Xinyi bowed her head afraid of what her husband would do. Because of this, his hand ended up on her ash-blond hair.
He ran his fingers on her shorter hair and felt the stiffness of its strands against his palm.
“It’s alright, President Shen. You don’t have to reward me.” She let out a harsh breath.
Of course, she wouldn’t need it. Shen Xue’s payment was a big favor that she would keep for a while.
“Oh, you don’t want a monetary reward?”
Lu Xinyi shook her head. Several thoughts came to her mind as she wondered what he was playing now.
“I did help Xue, and you really don’t have to thank me for anything. It was a part of a deal between us. If you were the one who needs help, I’ll also do the same for you, President Shen.”
“Really?” Shen Yi had managed to trap her successfully by placing his hand at one side of her head.
“Yes.” The corner of her mouth twitched. Why did she feel like her husband was teasing her and punishing her at the same time?
“Ah, but you see, Brother Fei, I don’t like to be in debt with other people. So Brother Fei, would you oppose if I offer myself as a reward?”
Lu Xinyi was left completely speechless for a second before her eyes flared with irritation.
“Shen Yi!”
“What? Don’t you think my body is enough? Won’t you do a full-body inspection to me as you’ve offered to Miss Wang?” Shen Yi leaned forward, letting her nose ran on her cheek before whispering in her ear. “I assure you I have better assets than her.” ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
“What?! How did you know about that? Were you following us?” Her eyes popped up. How come he knew the things she told Miss Wang if he didn’t stalk them?
“Why, my wife? Don’t tell me you are ashamed that I caught you cheating behind my back?” Shen Yi chuckled darkly.
“I’m not cheating on you.”
Lu Xinyi turned her face away, but Shen Yi cupped her chin and brought her attention back at him.
“You should’ve told me his request before agreeing.” His voice became serious.
“I know,” Lu Xinyi pouted, “but you weren’t answering my calls earlier so I did what I thought was right.”
“You think helping Xue is the right thing to do?”
“Isn’t it?”
Shen Yi inclined his head slightly.
“You could put it that way.”
There was a reason why their father and Grammie gave Shen Xue such a difficult task. He was supposed to close the deal alone and by himself without relying on other people. The Shen group could survive without the help the Wang Corporation given their massive empire within the Capital City.
If Shen Xue couldn’t even complete this simple task, then how would he able to run the Shen Group when his brother leaves the company?
His brother needed to grow up. It was time for him to stand for himself and not to rely on his brother’s capabilities anymore. With the SY Holding flourishing day by day, it wouldn’t take long before Shen Yi would leave the Shen Group to build an empire for himself.
By the look on her husband’s face, Lu Xinyi could tell that he was aware of his younger brother’s predicament. Had she messed up with his plans somehow?
“I’m sorry,” she murmured.
Shen Yi quirked a brow. “What for? For dating a woman today instead of going out with me?”
“No,” she almost whined from her husband’s ridiculousness. With her taking Miss Wang out for the day was a favor Shen Xue asked from her. “It was just a favor from Xue. Don’t tell me you are jealous of a woman?”
“What if I am?” Shen Yi countered.
“Shen Yi…”
This man was impossible to please at all! So possessive, so jealous. Lu Xinyi felt like pulling out her hair from frustration but didn’t.
Shen Yi’s hold on her chin loosened and moved to cup the side of her cheek.
“I missed you.”
Before she could utter another word, Shen Yi’s lips landed on hers, silencing her completely with his tongue invading and pushing past her lips. Lu Xinyi tried to break away from his hold. She struggled and failed as his arms wrapped around her, never letting her go.
Was he forgetting that she was still dressed as a man? What if someone saw him kissing her and assume that he was really a gay? Rumors about him using her as a scapegoat will resurface in public.
She tried to push his chest to release her, but he didn’t even move at all.
Just as her husband took his fill and ravished her lips, the door of the room opened once more with her father-in-law stepping inside with a small group of foreigners in a business fashion. Shen Xue also followed behind them with Assistant Qiao who wanted to hide from everyone.
“Yi, What’s this I hear that you’ve canceled today’s meeting? I—” Shen Huang stopped midway when he saw what his eldest son was doing.
He was making out with someone who wasn’t his wife?! Shen Huang had taken a liking to Lu Xinyi because he’d never had a chance to have a daughter of his own.
Shen Yi released his wife, leaving Lu Xinyi panting for air, her heartbeat racing inside her chest. She leaned down and buried her face on Shen Yi’s shirt. Because of their position, Shen Huang didn’t recognize his daughter-in-law.
Shen Huang cried internally.
‘Yi, how could you do this to our Xin’er? She’s been a perfect wife for you.’
What they’d seen was Shen Yi kissing another man forcibly and not the Lu Xinyi that was his wife.
