Сhарtеr 16: Giving Wan Wan a Dау Off
Li Chаoyаng соuldn’t undеrstаnd it. Сen Хiu hаd triеd еvery рossible means but fаilеd to саtсh аnу levеrаgе over him, уеt now shе had effortlеssly сaptured it аnd was using it tо threаtеn him.
Cen Хiu needed his hеlр. Сеn Xiu had ехtеndеd an olivе branсh, promising thаt oncе he seсured the pоsitiоn оf CЕО of the Cеn Grouр, hе would helр Li Chaоyаng оvеrthrow Оld Mastеr Zhou, freеing him frоm thе fear of the Zhou family’s pоwеr.
He believеd it. Whаt he trusted wasn’t Сеn Xiu, but the influence of the Cen family in the capital.
If it weren’t for being betrayed by the person he trusted most, the Cen Group would never have faced such turmoil.
Li Chaoyang gave up struggling. “It was Cen Xiu.”
“Cen Xiu has a company overseas. The embezzled funds are all in his company.” Li Chaoyang continued, “He gave me the company secrets during a project discussion, asking me to leak them.”
Cen Wan asked, “Why didn’t he do it himself?”
“If something went wrong, it would raise suspicion. By handing the secrets to me during a project discussion, even if an investigation were launched, no one would suspect him.”
What clever tactics. How had she never realized before that her dear brother was so cunning?
Cen Wan asked, “What are his plans after this?”
Li Chaoyang replied, “I only know he has a big plan. I really don’t know anything else. Cen Xiu doesn’t trust me that much.”
“I need evidence.” Cen Wan said, “I’ll give you one week.”
“I think you understand better than anyone that Cen Xiu even plotted against the family that raised him for twenty years. You’re just a pawn to him. When the time comes, your fate might be even worse.”
She paused briefly before continuing, “During this week, I’ll take good care of your son. If I don’t get the evidence in a week, I’ll bring your son back to acknowledge his roots.”
After saying this, she left directly. In a week, she would have the evidence.
If she obtained the evidence and exposed everything Cen Xiu had done—the nearly hundred billion embezzled from the company—he would likely go to prison. And she could change the course of the fire that would engulf the Cen family a year later.
But just going to prison meant he could still be released within his lifetime. That was too lenient for him.
However, for now, that was all she could do. She couldn’t risk her family’s safety. The sooner Cen Xiu was locked up, the sooner she could rest easy.
With Li Chaoyang as her bargaining chip, she believed it wouldn’t be long before she could send Cen Xiu to prison.
Lu Corporation Office.
He Yi reported, “Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu has contacted Li Chaoyang.”
Lu Beixun’s hand, which had been signing documents, paused. “Understood. Send someone to ensure Mrs. Lu’s safety.”
“Yes.”
After He Yi left, weariness surfaced in Lu Beixun’s eyes. He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose.
After a while, he stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, standing there for a long time with an inscrutable expression, lost in thought.
As soon as Cen Wan returned home, her mother-in-law video-called her. She was momentarily stunned—it felt like an eternity since their last conversation.
She casually smoothed her hair, sat on the sofa, and answered the call. On the screen, the woman wore exquisite makeup and looked as if she were in her early thirties, with no trace of being nearly fifty.
Cen Wan smiled sweetly and obediently called out, “Mom.”
Mother Lu responded. She liked her daughter-in-law more and more—not only was she sweet-tongued, but she was also clever and spirited. “My dear daughter, how have you been lately? Has Beixun been bullying you?”
Cen Wan shook her head with a smile. “No, he would never dare to bully me.”
From beginning to end, she was the one who had been the “bad” one—she was the one who had always bullied him…
“Mom, don’t worry,” Cen Wan thought of something and asked, “How have you and Dad been lately?”
“Your dad and I are doing well.”
After chatting about daily life, Cen Wan learned that Mother Lu was returning to the country. Her mood soared, and she wished Mother Lu could fly back immediately. She now had another powerful ally to help bring her closer to Lu Beixun.
“Mom, let me know when you’re coming back. I’ll pick you up at the airport.”
“Alright.”
Mother Lu also asked about her and Lu Beixun’s recent situation and whether they had plans for children. Cen Wan vaguely brushed over these questions.
Mother Lu assumed she was shy, especially since they had only been married for a little over a month. After exchanging a few more casual words, she ended the call.
After hanging up, Cen Wan let out a long sigh. How could there be a child when they hadn’t even consummated their marriage? Even if she wanted one, Lu Beixun wasn’t willing to fulfill her wishes.
However, once her wonderful mother-in-law returned, things might change. Her savior was coming.
This mother was far more reliable in such matters than her biological mother. Her biological mother was always praising Beixun—how good he was, how wonderful, how amazing—without ever caring about her daughter’s marital life.
Of course, Lu Beixun also had the ability to conceal everything. No matter how much she argued or made a scene, no one dared to say a word. With a man like him, what more could she ask for?
Yet she had foolishly believed the words of those with ulterior motives.
She thought that if she hadn’t been given a second chance at life, no matter how many opportunities she was given, she would have chosen to believe Cen Xiu. Before seeing his true nature, he had been like a ray of light in her world—gentle, humble, and polite. Although he wasn’t her biological brother, in her eyes, he had always treated her with genuine care.
Since childhood, Cen Xiu had protected her. Her spoiled temperament was largely his doing. Whenever she got into trouble as a child, Cen Xiu would be there to shield her from her parents’ scolding.
If he hadn’t harbored those sinister schemes in his heart, he would have been the best brother in the world.
Their family would have remained happy forever.
Early the next morning, Lu Beixun had to go on a business trip to Haicheng. At the earliest, he wouldn’t return until the next day. Cen Wan was in low spirits all morning and barely touched her breakfast.
Just thinking about the evening, when this vast villa would be empty again, sent a chill through her.
She dreaded the days without Lu Beixun, the deep nights without him.
He Yi was already waiting at the villa entrance. Cen Wan clung to Lu Beixun’s sleeve, unwilling to let go.
Lu Beixun looked slightly helpless. He held her hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand as if to comfort her. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Cen Wan lowered her eyes and nodded, reluctantly murmuring, “Mhm.”
“Be careful, and remember to let me know when you arrive safely in Haicheng.”
“Mhm,” Lu Beixun gently pulled her into his embrace. “I won’t be here tomorrow morning, so I’m giving Wan Wan a day off to sleep in.”
But she didn’t want a day off…
Cen Wan looked up, stood on her tiptoes, and lightly kissed the corner of his lips. “It’s time to go. You should leave now.”
After saying this, she gazed deeply at Lu Beixun, her clear eyes filled with reluctance. She turned and walked into the living room.
If she stayed any longer, she might have blurted out words to stop him from going on the business trip, clinging to him and begging him to abandon his work and stay. That version of herself was someone Lu Beixun wouldn’t like, and she wouldn’t like it either.
From the balcony on the second floor, she watched the car drive away, growing smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared from sight.
She stood on the balcony for a long while before finally returning to her room. She curled up in bed and binge-watched dramas for half the day. At noon, while having lunch, she received a call from Lu Beixun. The moment her phone’s special ringtone sounded, her eyes instantly lit up.
The flight from the capital to Haicheng took about two and a half hours. As soon as Lu Beixun landed, he turned on his phone and called her to let her know he had arrived safely.
Knowing he had already landed and that it was already noon, Cen Wan urged him to go eat quickly. Not wanting to waste his time, she said goodbye and hung up the phone.