Volume One, Chapter Four: Suisui is Discovered and Taken Away by Lu Junshen

Xia Nanzhi took a deep breath.

She was afraid of being recognized and did not want to linger. Returning to the Imperial Capital was out of the question.

"I am priceless."

With that, Xia Nanzhi brushed past Lu Junshen and walked out. Lu Junshen did not stop her, but his gaze remained fixed upon her. There was a faint, lingering fragrance about the woman—not like typical perfume, but something familiar, though he could not quite place where he had smelled it before. Moreover, she possessed a unique temperament that was remarkably similar to the Xia Nanzhi of the past. Xia Nanzhi had appeared soft, yet she always harbored a core of resilience. She was independent and decisive—when she left, she left. She never offered an opening, nor did she leave any room for negotiation.

The memory of Xia Nanzhi surfaced once more. Lu Junshen frowned. Over the past five years, he had often thought of her, recalling how she looked seven months pregnant, and wondering about the child. If she hadn't terminated that pregnancy, the child would be five years old by now. He hadn't felt much affection for her back then, but he had never intended to divorce her and had, in fact, looked forward to the child. A heavy, somber air settled over him at the thought.

"Junshen, this appraiser has such a temper. Why don't we find someone else for Grandfather? There are plenty of people in this world who understand antiques."

Lu Junshen tightened his brow. "There are many who understand antiques, but the person Grandfather wants is her. Jiang Ze, go and investigate her. I want her full background."

"Junshen, why investigate her? Are you interested in her?" Xu Ruoqing asked, probing. Ever since that wretch Xia Nanzhi disappeared, she had stayed by Lu Junshen’s side, but he had never once mentioned marriage, which made her anxious. Fortunately, Lu Junshen was cold and indifferent, showing no interest in other women. But today, the way he looked at that appraiser had ignited a sense of crisis in her.

"I am not interested, but Grandfather wants to see her. It is better to be thorough."

Xu Ruoqing felt reassured. Lu Junshen was only looking into her because of the old man. Besides, it was true—he could never be interested in an ugly woman who dared not even show her true face.

"Let’s return to the hotel." Lu Junshen turned and strode away.

Back in her office, Xia Nanzhi clutched her racing heart. Lu Junshen wanted to drag her back to look at antiques; having been married to him for three years, she knew exactly how overbearing he could be. He would likely come back. She had shown her face to him today, and she worried if he had recognized her or if he would launch an investigation. She could not let Lu Junshen find out anything about her, especially not about her children.

Xia Nanzhi picked up her phone and dialed a number. It was answered quickly, and a man’s low, languid voice came through. "Darling, is something the matter?"

"I need a favor. Someone is likely going to investigate me, and I cannot be found."

According to Xia Nanzhi’s own abilities, she could not stop Lu Junshen from investigating her, but the man on the other end of the line could.

"Fine."

With that single word, Xia Nanzhi knew he would follow through.

"This is the third time."

"What?" Xia Nanzhi did not understand his slow, deliberate remark.

"This is the third time I’ve helped you in the five years we’ve known each other. Darling, when we reach five, how about you marry me?"

On the other end, the tall, imposing man leaned back against a sofa, his bathrobe half-open to reveal perfectly defined abdominal muscles. He curved his lips in a careless, devilish smirk.

Xia Nanzhi shivered. Marry a demon? That sounded even more terrifying than Lu Junshen.

"That doesn't sound good at all. You help me, I earn money for you; we are even."

"I’d much rather you manage my money than earn it for me."

"You can find someone virtuous to manage your mountains of gold and silver. I’d only grab them and run."

"Heartless."

Xia Nanzhi hung up the phone and sent a message to her manager requesting two days off. She took a deep breath and pushed open her office door. "Suisui, Mommy is done now, let’s go... Suisui?"

She scanned the room, but Suisui was nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, in the underground parking garage, two little figures were peeking out from behind a wall. Xia Shunian sighed and silently opened his laptop to clean up the mess left by Xia Jinchen. Jinchen had doodled all over Lu Junshen’s car, and if the surveillance footage were checked, they would be done for. Shunian quickly hacked into the security system and deleted the footage, letting out a sigh of relief.

Up ahead, Xia Jinchen was waiting with Suisui, giggling as they anticipated the expression on Lu Junshen’s face when he saw the masterpiece.

"Who... who did this?"

A group of people approached, led by Lu Junshen. Jiang Ze looked at the large characters scrawled on the car in shock, reading them aloud involuntarily: "Abandoned-Son-Dumping, Scum-Man-Investigate! This... Sir..." Jiang Ze looked at Lu Junshen in terror. Who could have done this? Was the culprit trying to die?

"Who did this? How bold," Xu Ruoqing frowned as well.

Lu Junshen scanned the car with a dark face. Seven characters, one missing, two written incorrectly—it was clearly the work of a child.

"Sir, I will check the surveillance immediately."

"Hee hee hee..." A soft giggle drifted over.

Lu Junshen’s hearing was sharp. He looked up, his falcon-like gaze instantly catching two little heads peeking out from behind a wall.

Xia Jinchen reacted quickly. "We’ve been spotted! Run, Suisui!"

"What? What is it?" Suisui was startled. When she turned around, her two brothers were already far away.

"Brother, wait for Suisui!"

As she tried to chase after them, the hem of her cake dress snagged on something. Before she could take a step, she tripped and landed flat on the ground. The people behind were already closing in, and there was no escape. Suisui collapsed on the ground and covered her face with her hands.

*If I can't see them, they can't see me, they can't see me...*

Lu Junshen strode over, watched the little bundle on the ground for a moment in silence, and reached down to hoist her up. The little one had her hands over her eyes, as if that would make her invisible. What a classic case of burying one's head in the sand.

"I see you. Stop covering your face."

Suisui, who thought she was hidden perfectly, opened her eyes, her large pupils filled with confusion. What happened? Every time she played hide-and-seek with her brothers, she was always the best at hiding.

She lowered her hands. Since she was being held up, she dangled her little arms and legs, realizing she couldn't get down. Suisui stared at Lu Junshen with wide eyes. Seeing her birth father up close for the first time, she blinked, noticing how much her brothers looked like him. Fortunately, she looked like Mommy, not this ugly, bad daddy.

Suisui thought to herself, her face unconsciously making little expressions. Lu Junshen watched her, sensing the richness of her inner world.

"Whose child are you, and why did you draw on my car?" Lu Junshen’s voice was cold and hollow.

Suisui wasn't afraid of him, but she pressed her little lips together. Mommy said not to talk to bad people. Daddy is a bad person—a bad person who would take Suisui away and not let her see Mommy.

"If you don't speak, I will hand you over to the police, and the police will find your father."

Suisui blinked. *Stupid Daddy, don't look for yourself.*

Lu Junshen assumed a child her age would be afraid of the police, but she didn't seem to be.

"When a child does something bad, their parents get punished. I’ll have your father arrested in a moment."

*Go ahead and arrest him,* Suisui thought, fully supportive.

She still wasn't afraid. Lu Junshen realized this little thing was impervious to his threats.

"I'll have your mother arrested, too."

"Why arrest Mommy? Just arrest Daddy! Don't arrest Mommy!" Suisui grew anxious, hands on her hips, looking adorably fierce.

Lu Junshen let out a dry laugh. So, arresting the mother was off-limits, but the father was fair game? The girl’s father must have failed quite miserably.