Lu Tian sat in the dining room that was connected to the living room. He calmly listens from the start to end as his wife and Liu Shan explain in detail of what happened. His brows would furrow from here and there. Even when they were done, he still held a frowning expression.
He looks at his wife as she was not sitting down with him and Liu Shan, but had gone into the kitchen to finish cooking dinner.
However, due to the close distance of the two rooms, he part his lips to ask her.
"You went to Dark Clouds?"
Though he has never had any involvements with Dark Clouds, he has gathered all the information he needed about the gang.
From what he knows, every member of the gang are have no families and no homes. The leader, Hu Ma initiated them into his gang out of sympathy for those who are in the same situation as him.
They may put on the appearance of beggars but only a very few people know that they are knowledgeable and good at fooling others.
Dark Clouds also purposely hid themselves in the slums of Imperial as a cover up so other gangs will not have to worry about them. If anything, Dark Clouds can be consider on the same level of strength as Black Dragon and White Tiger.
Thinking this after his question, he purse his lip when he pictures the scene of his wife entering the filthy place.
"If you were dealing with them, you could have told me. I would have gone instead of you."
He knows that his wife is the leader of Fate, but never did he think her plan for Ning Mei would involve Dark Clouds. It is said in the underworld that Hu Ma is a very stubborn old man and would never listen to anyone. Those who have sought out a deal with him would end up falling into his trap.
Oblivious to Lu Tian's inner thoughts, Yue Ling stops cooking and turns to look at him. Seeing his creased brows and pursed lip, she smiles faintly at how he looked like a little disapproving boy.
"We agreed that you will handle Wei Hongyi and I with Ning Mei. Besides, Hu Ma is not like how others put him to be."
She set the spatula in her hand down and walks over to the table. Stopping in front of him, she slightly bends forward and press her thumb between the space on his brows.
"He is an old acquaintance of my hal-abeoji. Even if this was our first-time meeting in person, he will not harm me out of respect for my hal-abeoji."
Her words fell as her thumb gently soothes the crease between Lu Tian's brows. However, she could feel that every time she had sooth it, the three lines would return the second she stops.
"Why are you always frowning? It's not good for your health."
Feeling her soft hand on his head, Lu Tian brush all thoughts aside. He looks at her face and smiles a very tiny smile.
"It's natural to frown when I'm worrying about you."
He raise his right hand and held onto her hand. Lowering it to his lip, he place a soft kiss on the back of her hand.
"Next time, let me know in advance or else I will be frowning forever with worry for you."
Yue Ling's cheeks flush red at his sudden sweet gesture and sugary words. She turns into a shy little girl and avert her gaze from him.
While the couple immerse in their own little world, they had long forgotten about the other person sitting at the table.
Liu Shan stares at the couple with heavy eyelids. Being the third wheel, his eyes slowly blinks, and he thought to himself.
Why is he here? Where are Lin Hui and Nie Chen? How come he is the only being fed dog food?
Seeing how Yue Ling, who is always calm and strong suddenly turns into a bashful woman, he rolls his eyes and gets up from his seat.
"Boss, call me when the food is ready."
He doesn't wait for her response and walks out of the kitchen. If he stays here any longer, his stomach will be fed with so much dog foods that he won't be able to eat a proper meal.
Hearing Liu Shan's words, Yue Ling was brought back to her senses. The shyness that once overcame her quickly replaces with her usual self and she looks at her assistant's departing figure.
She wanted to say something to him but feeling Lu Tian's hand still holding onto her hand, her entire face turns crimson red and she pulls away from his grasp.
"I should finish cooking."
This time, it was her who didn't wait for the aloof man to answer and strides back into the kitchen. However, unlike the boss and assistant, Lu Tian was calmer and relax.
He remains seated alone at the dining table and stares at his wife's figure. Without realizing it, one corner of his lip was curled up as a seductive smirk place on his face. He calmly leans back on the chair and watch her start to cook again.
No matter how long time passes, he will never get tired of looking at her.
If possible, he doesn't mind her being the only person he sees. Even if she were to block his view from the world, he doesn't mind.
As he thought this, his brows furrow again. He was able to meet with Uncle Zhi before taking care of Wei Hongyi. The ring is coming along as planned, but he wasn't able to get a hold of Doctor Dong.
He sighs inside at self-pity for himself and stood up from the chair. Guess it will be another painful night of holding himself back. After all, even if he wanted to do the deed with his wife, he cannot be selfish and ruin her recovery process.
Entering the kitchen, he stops next to his wife and smiles to her.
"I'll help you cook."
While the couple finish cooking a late-night dinner, Liu Shan had long entered the living room, but he stopped in his steps and stares with heavier eyelids at the other two people.
He swore, it was like someone had glued bowling balls onto his eyelashes, so he won't be able to open them.
After a long minute, he takes a deep breath and place both his fists on his hip.
"Really? This is what you two were doing while I was being fed dog food?"
On one of the couches, Nie Chen sat lazily in the middle. His head was tilt to the side as his stares down on his lap where his phone is. Even with his double chin showing, he didn't care and continue to scroll through the web.
When he heard Liu Shan's words, he doesn't move a muscle, but his eyes did not forget to glance up at the man.
"Who told you to go sit in the kitchen?"
Across on the other couch, Lin Hui was laying on his stomach. His legs would swing back and forth in the air, but the second Nie Chen was done speaking, he turns to lay on his side and lock eyes with Liu Shan.
"Yea, no one told you to go eat dog food. You should have been smart like us and stayed here until dinner was done."
He spoke like a quick-witted person and someone who had never been wrong. Before looking away from Liu Shan, he stuck his tongue out and his eyes rolled up until they were white.
Liu Shan: "…"
Liu Shan stares back and forth at the two people with a dumbfounded expression. He finally stares ahead to who knows where and thought to himself.
Why does it feel like Lin Hui and Nie Chen are two spoiled brats and he is their easy to pick on butler, while Yue Ling and Lu Tian became the house chefs?
Thinking this, he sighs inside and shakes his head. If only Xu Long and Qi Li were here.
