Chapter 104 - Breathe
Since Xiu Mei’s parents are still busy handling the problem on their side, her mother just gave her a quick brief of what happened.
To summarize the story, her father was in the middle of inspecting one of the major projects he was handling when was suddenly attacked by one of the ordinary citizens that were around the area.
Since that person was pretty near, he was able to injure his father when he pulled out his dagger. Her Dad was roughened up by her grandfather(Yu Shi Huang’s father) before he got married to her Mom so he was able to quickly deflect the knife before it even stabbed him.
Though, since he used his bare arm, he was still grazed lightly on his arm making a long diagonal wound on it. Thankfully, the wound wasn’t deep and just required some small stitches.
Her Dad’s men were able to apprehend the guy who tried to attack him but the gu’s mouth was completely shut when they tried to pry some information from him.
Xiu Mei carefully listened to her Mom on the phone. As soon as her Mom updated her on where they are right now, she fell silent for a few seconds before opening her mouth.
"Are you sure you don’t need me there?" She asked.
Xiu Mei already understood what her mother was trying to say. She was telling her not to worry and everything is fine on their side. That she didn’t need to rush back and to just finish the two days vacation here.
"Sweetie, it’s going to be fine. I promise."
"Mmm... okay."
Once her Mom promises her that, she really couldn’t say anything anymore. Given how strong her parents’ background, there’s a very high chance that they’ll figure out who planned this attack.
Also, her second brother is right there so she’s very assured that it will be fine.
In the back of her mind, she suddenly thought that if they really compare her with her twin brothers, she’s pretty weak ah. Her first brother has military power and her second brother in politics, the two supreme powers in the country. And then there’s her who has business connections and power. The only thing that’s in her advantage is that she has more connections internationally when compared to her brothers.
Still, it proved how much of an odd one she was in the family for choosing a very different path.
"How’s my grandson? Is he asleep?"
Knowing that her Mom was trying to shift the topic, she let her have her way and answered her question.
"He’s asleep. He probably got tired after playing around a little bit after dinner."
Xiu Mei remembered how Lu Qiang really tried on each and every piece of clothing in that basket for her sake. She fell for the little kid again while peppering him with kisses as they paid for the clothes.
"That’s fine. He’ll grow up healthy if he sleeps enough."
"Mmm."
"Sweetie, we can talk one you’re back okay?"
"Mm, I know."
"Then, I’ll say goodbye for now."
"Okay. Goodnight, Mom."
"Goodnight, and I love you."
"Mm, me too."
Xiu Mei didn’t move a muscle even after the call was hung up. She stared away at something, feeling lost.
Was she really worrying too much?
It was only when she heard someone knocking on the door did she wake up from her senses. Xiu Mei was very startled when she heard that sound. Turning behind her, she finally saw Lu Chen leaning on the door frame with his hands crossed. He looked very bored and nonchalant in the position yet the soft gaze he was using clearly expressed his emotions.
"Can I come in?" He asked.
She hesitated before finally letting him come into her room. Being granted permission to enter her room, Lu Chen properly closed the door behind him and approached Xiu Mei. He was able to quickly reach her with his long strides and stopped in front of her.
He looked down to look at her face since there were some differences in their heights. The two of them stared at each other’s eyes, filling the room with silence. A few moments later, it was Xiu Mei who finally broke the peace in the room.
"Did you know about it earlier?" She wasn’t accusing him or anything when she asked him this.
She simply wanted to know if Lu Chen was aware of that news. If he did, then she will surely feel slightly disappointed with him but she won’t blame him either way. She didn’t know why he hid it from her but she had a strong hunch it was definitely because of her brothers.
If he didn’t, then it’s still fine. Though she’ll be more surprised that he was unaware of it.
Lu Chen did not respond immediately and pulled Xiu Mei’s body closer towards himself. His arm remained in her waist while the other brushed the small hairs around her face.
"I’m sorry." He didn’t directly answer her question but with his apology, he was already implying that he knew what was happening but kept his mouth shut about it.
Xiu Mei didn’t feel angry at all and just nodded. She bit her lip as if she was thinking about something.
"Do you think it’s the same person who tried to kidnap me?" She randomly thought.
"We’re not sure."
Xiu Mei remembered the night she was kidnapped again and the mysterious man she met in the hospital. She was trying to connect all the dots with her kidnapping ten years ago but she couldn’t find the link at all.
She was thinking so deeply that she didn’t notice that she was already sweating and trembling while in Lu Chen’s arms.
Sensing that her PTSD symptoms were recurring again, Lu Chen soothed Xiu Mei’s back by brushing his hand and cupped her cheek. He pulled her into a tight hug while whispering in her ear.
"Breathe, wife. Breathe." He repeated those words over and over in her ear.
Xiu Mei clung to Lu Chen as if he was her lifeline. With his support, she tried her best to ignore the memories and negativity that was slowly coming back to her.
"I-Is it n-not over?" She asked with her trembling voice whilst trying to inhale and exhale in an even patter to calm down herself.
"I promised you. You’ll be fine. I’ll always be here." Lu Chen continued soothing her.
With tears running down her cheeks, she sobbed in his chest. A few seconds later, she was already trying to push Lu Chen away from her.
"I—N-No—" She struggled in his arms and continuously punched him in his chest but Lu Chen did not let go. He tried to hold her still when she was doing that.
"Xiu Mei, breathe." He whispered to her ear once again. "Come on, breathe with me. Just focus on my breathing okay?"
After a few minutes of going back and forth like that, Xiu Mei gradually stopped pushing him away. She was still not fully calmed down but she was better than before.
"Just listen to my breathing." Lu Chen held her head onto his chest so she could feel his rhythmic pattern in breathing every time his chest rises and goes down.
"It’s okay. It’s okay." He continued soothing her like that for almost half an hour. Xiu Mei gradually calmed down after though her body was still trembling a little bit even after that.
Lu Chen did not let her go and continued giving her his warmth.
Ten minutes later, Xiu Mei was now back to her senses.
With her head still in Lu Chen’s chest, she could clearly hear the beating of his chest. She found that even patter very soothing and calming so she continued relaxing in his embrace.
"Do you want me to tell you a story?" Seeing that she was now calmed down, Lu Chen tried acting like she didn’t have an episode a while ago. He was now trying to distract her with other things and trying to make her laugh.
Xiu Mei did not speak but she shook her head, declining his offer.
For her, this peace and silence are making things easier. It was easier for her to concentrate on him instead of thinking about other things. She clung to him so desperately that she didn’t feel like letting go at all.
After standing for that long, Lu Chen thought that Xiu Mei must be getting a bit tired at that position so he sat on the bed and pulled her towards him. Xiu Mei did not struggle at all so she let him make her sit on his lap.
She was clinging to him like a baby, with her arms wrapped around his shoulders and neck and her chin resting on his shoulder.
Feeling at peace, Xiu Mei asked for a request that Lu Chen did not expect at all.
"Can you stay with me tonight?"