Yue Ling was beyond thrilled when Lu Tian asked if she wanted a tour of the villa. Anyone given a chance like her would answer with a yes, but she forces back her inner feelings and shakes her head.
"No, we can do that after dinner."
She smiles up at him to reassure him of her answer, then points in a direction behind him.
"Shall we go to the kitchen then?"
The corners of Lu Tian's mouth curls up with a small chuckle. He takes hold of her smaller hand and walks away from where they were standing.
"Then allow me to give you your first tour of the villa."
Yue Ling didn't argue back but obediently follows his steps as she has no idea where to go since the place was prominent. However, as they walked through a part of the house, she didn't forget to glance around with a look of awe.
She wasn't that surprised, as one should be, to see that the villa was more beyond stunning.
Their current home is one of a kind, and she honestly thought it was marvelous enough, but compare to this very villa, it was by far inferior. Even she hated to admit it, but her grandfather's mansion cannot outdo this place.
Lu Tian continued to lead the way with a smile on his face. He didn't need to turn around to see his wife's expression. He could guess just by listening to her continuous soft gasps as they head towards the kitchen.
"Do you want to move here?"
If he had known his wife would like this villa so much, he would have moved them here instead of the house they're living. He never thought about it because of her career choice, and he didn't want her to be isolated from the world.
However, one word of yes from her, and he will have all their belongings moved here within minutes.
Yue Ling didn't expect Lu Tian to ask her such a question. Her eyebrows rose as she turns her head to look at his back figure. She ponders to herself for a long second before sighing a smile.
"This villa is pretty. One of the prettiest villas I've seen."
She stops in her tracks, causing Lu Tian to stop with her. He turns around to look at her and is greeted with a smile on her face. A smile that can melt the world as her words continue.
"But I prefer our home more."
She indeed feels like she had walked into a castle in a fairy tale, but despite all the luxuriousness this place has to offer, it isn't comparable to their house.
The home she and Lu Tian built a life together.
Lu Tian's expression turned into one of pure surprise at her response. He honestly thought she would want to move here, especially after seeing the sparkles in her eyes when she saw the villa.
Thinking back to her words, he scrutinizes his eyes a little like he was trying to see through her mind. However, his expression only made Yue Ling laugh.
Her smile widens on her face. She decides not to push the topis and points in the direction she guessed they were heading with a slightly tilted head.
"Are we close to the kitchen?"
Lu Tian was brought back to his senses by his wife's question. He sounds a faint 'mm' as he knew his wife's reason for changing the subject. Her ways of doing things were similar to him. Once she says something, that was her final answer, and there is no changing her mind.
He takes a step forward and heads in the direction of the kitchen without another sound.
Yue Ling leisurely follows him, but something crosses her mind, and her eyebrows crease slightly.
"Tian, I know we are here in your beautiful villa, but…"
Her lips pursed with a perplexed look, and she leans a little close to him.
"We… We didn't stop by the store on the way here."
Lu Tian held himself back from laughing, but a smile curled on his face. He liked seeing his wife get fl.u.s.tered over something so small.
"I know, but don't worry."
He reassures her with a stern expression then leans to the side towards her.
"I got it all covered."
Yue Ling wasn't in doubt about his words. They had just boarded the plane and headed here without stopping anywhere, so how can someone be so confident like him?
She was led to the kitchen, and her jaw nearly dropped to the floor. The size of the kitchen was like one of a 5-star restaurant. It was designed in an L-shape with an island in the center.
However, she was too occupied with what was on top of the island and had no time to admire the entire kitchen's details.
"Um… Tian, this is what you meant when you said you got it covered?"
She turns her head to the left and looks at the tall figure standing next to her. At the same time, she didn't forget to point to what had caught her attention.
Lu Tian's eyes remained fixated on what his wife was pointing. Only, his expression was one of proudness, unlike her dumbfounded and confused one.
His head nods lightly, and he finally looks at her.
"Mm. I called Steward Bai in advance to prepare this."
"…"
Yue Ling was in utter disbelief when she heard this. She sounds a sarcastic scoff and looks at the island.
"So this is what you mean… but don't you think it's a little bit too much?"
Laid out on the kitchen island were cleaned produce and meat. Everything one would need if they wanted to cook at least twenty different meals, maybe even more.
Yue Ling takes a few steps forward and places her palms on the smooth surface of the island. Her eyes scan the many ingredients in front of her, ready to be chopped and cooked.
She removes her coat, places it on a bar stool, and then reaches for one of the two aprons hanging nearby. Just as she finished tying the apron on her back, she looks at Lu Tian, who hasn't moved from his position.
Her right-hand raises and she sends him a gesture.
"Don't worry. I know what to cook. You'll like it."
Lu Tian glance at her. When he saw her gesture, he removes his coat and places it next to her coat before walking around the island to pick up the remaining apron.
"What should I chop first?"
"…"
Yue Ling blinked her eyes that had become heavy. Her gesture was for him to leave the kitchen, not come closer to help.
She heaves a long sigh and grabs his arm before pulling out of the room.
"I can't handle this on my own. Plus, my cooking isn't that inferior to yours."
Stopping at the kitchen exit, she ushered him away and stood her ground from keeping him back from entering.
"You can go put our bags away. I'll call you when dinner is ready. Okay? Okay."
Lu Tian held a frown like a little child not getting his way. His body relaxed as he lets her push him out of the kitchen. He knows that his wife is a great cook, but he wanted to help her in any way possible.
However, not wanting to get in the way of her good mood, he decides not to push his luck.
"Fine."
He turns around to face her and lowers his head to give her a small kiss on her forehead before walking away.
"Call for me if you need any help."
Yue Ling watched him leave until he was no longer in sight. She needed to make sure that he wouldn't turn around and sneak back inside the kitchen.
It's not that she doesn't mind him helping. It was more of how the situation will turn out if she does let him. She'll end up being push to the side, and he does all the cooking while she watches.
As she turns away and prepares dinner, Lu Tian had taken their bags up the stairs.
The villa has twenty rooms on the second floor, but he chose the farthest one because he knew his wife would like it best.
He opens the double glass door and enters.
The lights switch on and reveal a room more spacious than the one at their house. There was floor to ceiling windows between the walls, creating a pattern with a king-sized bed on one side of the room.
*Ring ring
He walks over to one of the windows and put their bags down on a lounge chaise. The second the bag touched the seat, the ringing of his phone surfaces.
He casually takes it out and lowers his head. Upon seeing the name of the caller, his eyebrows wrinkle.
He answers the call as he turns his head to the side and looks at the door he had entered.
"Speak."
["Boss, we've got company lurking outside the premises."]
Hearing the words, Lu Tian's eyes dimmed dangerously. He looks away from the door with a straightened posture and places his other hand in his pant pockets.
He stares indifferently out the window to the night sky, and his deep voice sounds.
"Name."
["Negative, boss. Suspects are in an unidentified black vehicle. Right now, they are parked less than a kilometer from the premises."]
Hearing this, the temperature inside the room turned cold, as if a blizzard had blown in. The veins on Lu Tian's neck pop but quickly disappears as he calms himself down.
"Let no rats inside."
["Say no more, boss."]
Lu Tian doesn't respond and ends the call. However, the coldness in his eyes and the atmosphere did not subdue one bit.
From his time working on cases involving the underworld, he learned one thing about Tao Meng. The man will stop at nothing to get what he (Tao Meng) wants. Even if it means crossing a line, he shouldn't.
This was also why he brought his wife here. It was the safest place as no one can follow them and enter without authorization.
Unexpectedly, he made the right decision as Tao Meng must be striking earlier than he thought.
Lu Tian inhales a deep breath to clear his conscience. He places his phone back in his pocket and turns for the door as a devilish smirk curled on his face.
It seems like Tao Meng and his men are begging to enter death's door.
