Сhарter 22: Wait Until You’vе Сried Enоugh Befоrе Gоing Ноmе
Thе nехt аfternoоn, Cen Wan and Lu Веixun sаw Fаthеr Lu аnd Мothеr Lu оff аt the airроrt.
Cеn Wan had beеn holding Мother Lu’s arm thе wholе time. Shе wаs reluctаnt to see Моthеr Lu lеave, hеr еуеs reddening.
During thеir time tоgether, thеir relatiоnship felt mоre like that оf а dаughter аnd mоther rather thаn mothеr-in-lаw and daughtеr-in-law. Mоther Lu trulу trеаted hеr like her оwn daughter, dоting оn hеr.
Mother Lu comforted her оutsidе for a while befоrе handing her ovеr tо Lu Beixun and heading off with Father Lu to board their flight.
Lu Beixun looked at her helplessly, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks. He hadn’t realized before just how prone to tears she was.
He knew she had always been delicate, but now she was like a walking little crybaby, ready to burst into tears at any moment.
He coaxed her softly, “Little crybaby, Mom and Dad will be back in a while. Don’t cry.”
Cen Wan’s tears continued to fall. Lu Beixun sighed. “Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll take you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Cen Wan stopped crying. She loved the feeling of Lu Beixun comforting her. Wiping her tears on the front of his shirt, she mumbled, “Ice cream.”
“Let’s go.” Lu Beixun took her hand and led her out of the airport.
Cen Wan sniffled and began pushing her luck. “I want two scoops.”
“One strawberry, one mango.”
Lu Beixun stopped walking, narrowing his eyes as his gaze settled on her face.
Cen Wan felt uneasy under his stare. Had she said something wrong?
After a few seconds, Lu Beixun released her hand, his voice full of pressure. “Go ahead and cry. Wait until you’ve cried enough before going home.”
Cen Wan: “…”
Was this how people comforted others?
He had been so patient with her just moments ago. Why had he suddenly changed…
Was asking for two scoops of ice cream too much?
It probably wasn’t, right?
Cen Wan looked at him pitifully, inching closer to him bit by bit. Lu Beixun took a step back to keep his distance. She knew it was about the ice cream. “I won’t have ice cream. Come closer. Let’s go home.”
Her eyes were clear, and with tears in them, she looked even more pitiable. Lu Beixun’s heart softened completely. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. “Choose one: strawberry or mango.”
Lu Beixun was worried her delicate constitution couldn’t handle too much ice cream and would end up with a stomachache.
“Mango.” After a few seconds of hesitation, Cen Wan chose mango.
Not only did Cen Wan get her ice cream, but she also enjoyed sugar-roasted chestnuts peeled by Lu Beixun himself.
Cen Wan teased him, “If you’re concerned about me, just say so. No need to be so fierce.”
This was something about Lu Beixun that had never changed, whether in her previous life or this one. Even when he was clearly concerned about her, he acted fierce.
She peeled a sugar-roasted chestnut and held it to his lips. Lu Beixun looked at the chestnut in her hand, hesitated for a few seconds, and then ate it from her hand.
They returned to the Lu residence at six.
It was dinner time. Besides the ice cream and sugar-roasted chestnuts, Cen Wan had also eaten a piece of dessert and had no appetite. “I won’t have dinner.”
Lu Beixun glanced at her and firmly led her into the dining room, serving her a bowl of soup. “Eat at least a little.”
Seeing Lu Beixun’s firm attitude, Cen Wan knew that if she didn’t drink this bowl of soup, she might not get any snacks in the future, let alone have him hand-feed her again.
She drank the bowl of soup, and Lu Beixun didn’t make her eat anything else.
After saying goodbye to Lu Beixun, she went upstairs to take a bath.
The day of her appointment with Li Chaoyang arrived, and Cen Wan got the evidence as she wished—it was a recording. She consulted a lawyer, who told her that the recording alone wasn’t enough evidence. Even if Cen Xiu were arrested, he wouldn’t be locked up for long. Without solid evidence, he would eventually be released.
Cen Xiu didn’t fully trust Li Chaoyang, so Li Chaoyang could only coax information out of him to get the recording. Listening to the recording, it was clear that Cen Xiu was noticeably wary of Li Chaoyang.
However, Li Chaoyang told her that Cen Xiu had a specially modified computer that he often carried with him. If the password was entered incorrectly even once, all the data on the computer would be automatically destroyed. This was something Li Chaoyang had discovered by accident.
If she wasn’t mistaken, this computer likely contained many unsavory secrets.
With her plan falling through, Cen Wan felt a headache coming on. Thinking carefully, she realized she might have seen the computer Li Chaoyang mentioned.
Cen Wan didn’t press Li Chaoyang further. Besides her search for evidence, someone else was also investigating Cen Xiu, and their progress was far faster than hers.
Lu Corporation Office.
He Yi: “Mr. Lu, should we tell Madam?”
Lu Beixun’s expression was dark. “No need. She wants to investigate on her own.”
“Understood.”
After a few seconds, Lu Beixun spoke slowly. “Give Madam some clues.”
He Yi: “Understood.”
“Above all, ensure Madam’s safety.” Lu Beixun added, “Investigate how Jiang Yu died. Was it an accident or murder?”
“Understood.”
The Jiang Yu Lu Beixun mentioned was once Cen Xiu’s assistant. When Cen Xiu served as deputy general manager at Cen Corporation, Jiang Yu died after the company encountered trouble—by drowning.
Jiang Yu enjoyed fishing in his free time, so no one suspected foul play when he drowned. However, Lu Beixun felt things weren’t that simple.
Cen Wan hired several hackers to infiltrate Cen Xiu’s computer, but all attempts failed. This alone showed just how extensive and meticulous Cen Xiu’s scheme was.
No matter how meticulous he was, he couldn’t cover every flaw.
Cen Wan began investigating the people around Cen Xiu and unexpectedly discovered his former assistant, Jiang Yu. He had died around the time the Cen family encountered trouble. There was definitely something suspicious about it.
She made a call to have someone investigate.
That Sunday.
Father Cen and Mother Cen had gone abroad for a trip. Cen Luo, who was usually too busy to come home, returned this week.
Lu Beixun went to the office in the afternoon to finish some unfinished business. While Cen Wan was bored at home, she received a call from Cen Luo, asking her to come home for dinner that evening.
Cen Wan refused at first but eventually gave in to Cen Luo’s persistent pleading. Before leaving, she sent Lu Beixun a message.
First, to inform him of her plans, and second, in hopes that Lu Beixun would come pick her up after he finished work.
Lu Beixun: 【Okay】
He only replied with “Okay,” which left Cen Wan somewhat disappointed. Just as she was about to put her phone in her bag and leave, another notification sounded.
Lu Beixun: 【I’ll come find you after I finish work.】
Cen Wan smiled silently and quickly typed “Waiting for you” before hitting send.
When she arrived at the Cen family living room, Cen Luo and Cen Xiu were sitting on the sofa. Cen Wan saw someone she didn’t want to see, her expression darkening for a moment before returning to normal. Cen Luo, though usually carefree, could be quite observant at times.
She noticed Cen Wan’s mood and opened her mouth to explain, but Cen Wan cut her off.
Cen Wan’s voice was icy. “Cen Luo, are you itching for trouble?”
Cen Luo panicked, knowing Cen Wan was genuinely angry this time. “Sis, let me explain.”
At that moment, Cen Xiu stood up and walked over to Cen Wan, standing opposite her with a gentle gaze. “Wan Wan, don’t blame Luo Luo. I asked her to help.”
Cen Luo, who hadn’t planned to return home from school, received a call from Cen Xiu. He said he and Cen Wan had some recent disagreements and asked her to help invite Cen Wan for a meal.
Cen Luo had also noticed the subtle tension between Cen Wan and Cen Xiu. No matter what, they were still family. If there was a misunderstanding, it should be resolved quickly. Otherwise, she would be caught in the middle, feeling torn between both sides.