Chapter 137 - Talk - Final Part
Silence filled Lu Chen’s office after giving his response to Xiu Mei’s words. It was so dead silent that they can faintly hear the sounds from outside his office and the sound of each other’s breathing.
Lu Chen grew anxious for every second that passed with no response from Xiu Mei. But he patiently waited. He firmly held her hand, placed kisses on her knuckles as if bribing her to calm down and behaved. He patiently waited for her to absorb all the things she heard. He couldn’t help but also regret that he told her this early.
Their relationship hasn’t stabilized yet, and now he’s facing all sorts of sufferings from the very start.
And no sane person on earth could easily accept that her husband operates an assassin organization and kills for a living. At first, he was disgusted at himself for staining his hands with blood, but over time, he began to accept the fact that the only way for him to survive is to be ruthless with your enemies.
In this line of work, if you’re too softhearted, you’ll surely die first in the hands of your enemies. It was the path he took because it was the legacy that person left for him. His organization hunts and kills the dangerous and threatening people who disturb the limits set in the underground city. For the people who don’t intend to wreak havoc, they don’t harm them at all.
But no matter how much they differentiate these two kinds of people, he knows he couldn’t justify the killings they’ve done. He is a murderer, that is the fact.
Sometimes, he wondered what kind of person would he have been if he had not met that person back when he was still in college? What if that person did not choose him to be his successor, and Lu Chen lived his life normally?
Wouldn’t have that been better? At least, he won’t be ashamed to face Xiu Mei like this right now.
Meanwhile, Xiu Mei did her best to calm herself down. Even though she looked fine on the outside, her inner mind was screaming in turmoil.
She glanced at his direction, observing his face. He was visibly anxious, gluing his sight on her hand he was holding so carefully as if it was so fragile.
This man who is normally so indifferent.
This man who looks at her so tenderly right now.
He was always so charismatic and confident in her eyes, no matter what role he takes on.
As the president of the Lu Corporation. As her husband and as Lu Qiang’s father.
But this same man.... Is saying that he is a person who kills as well.
....what should she do?
She pondered for a long time before opening her mouth.
"Is it unavoidable?"
Lu Chen was stupified when she decided to speak to him again. Nevertheless, he responded to her question.
"It is."
"Then..." Xiu Mei bit her lip and briefly paused. She hesitated for a few seconds, then taking a deep breath, she continued.
"Is it to keep order?"
Lu Chen thought about it for a second. "Somehow. But it’s more of keeping them in check."
Xiu Mei blinked and shook her head, reflecting on his answer. Lu Chen wasn’t clear of what was running on her mind right now but the longer she goes quiet, the more anxious he feels.
He was anxiously waiting, akin to a prisoner awaiting his final sentence.
Xiu Mei took another deep breath. She straightened her back and turned to look at Lu Chen once again. This time, the shock and confusion wiped off of her face.
"I understand." She briefly responded. She took back her hand from his grasp and stood up. She turned her back to Lu Chen and started approaching the door of his office.
Lu Chen, seeing her reaction, was crestfallen.
She was leaving. She was leaving him.
Does that mean she doesn’t accept him? That she’s pushing him away?
...Is she really leaving him?
Then what should he do now?
Should he start sending her flowers everyday to appease her? Ah! Should he kneel on the washboard every night? Should he go start learning how to bake so he could spoil her with her favorite desserts?
And maybe, he should ask for cooperation with Lu Qiang this time when chasing back Xiu Mei again?
Lu Chen didn’t dwell that long on the possibility that Xiu Mei rejected him. Seeing her reaction, he shouldn’t waste his time wallowing on pity for himself. Instead, as early as right now, he should start planning on how he would win her back again.
Though winning her back this time around would surely be difficult, it’s fine. Just like how he insistently approached and proposed to her back then, he would never stop chasing her until he wins her back again.
Then maybe, she will give him a chance again.
He helplessly watched her strode to the door. But then suddenly, Xiu Mei stopped on her tracks and turned around.
She looked at him with an indifferent expression before she started walking towards his direction. With the back of the couch in between them, it didn’t stop her from dipping her head to make it to be on the same level with Lu Chen.
Lu Chen turned his head, making eye contact with her. He was bewildered by the sudden turn of events. He was at a loss and got confused about what was she suddenly doing right now.
Xiu Mei suppressed her smile. She thought that it was fun seeing his confused and defeated expression from time to time.
Then she took a glimpse of his lips before meeting his eyes again. Making up her mind, she boldly leaned closer and pecked his lips. After that, she pulled away and stood straight up again.
She looked down to see Lu Chen’s stupefied expression that was looking at her. She curled the end of her lips and spoke.
"I’ll wait for you later." Then, she turned her back again. This time, she truly left the room once and for all.
As soon as the door closed, Lu Chen shot up from his seat still stunned from what just happened. His gaze stayed on the closed door then after a few seconds, it finally registered in him what was happening.
He touched his lips with his fingers, trying to remember the lingering kiss that Xiu Mei briefly left on his lips.
...She kissed him. She kissed him.
Then the answer finally dawned on him.
His eyes twinkled with joy and look at the door as if he could see the people behind it.
Does this mean she’s accepting him?
On the other hand, Xiu Mei who gave her answer to the anxious president a short while ago was silent on her chair.
With her assistant nowhere to be found, she was now all alone on the open area along with Lu Chen who was on the other side of the wall.
She spun around her office chair then her eyes darted towards the view outside the floor to ceiling glass window in front of her. The sun was almost setting, the orange skies and the shadowy building are reflecting in her eyes.
She fiddled with her fingers while biting her lips.
"It will be alright." She murmured to herself.
Thankfully she was alone so no one will think that she’s crazy for suddenly talking to herself out of nowhere.
But that’s the least of her worries though.
Right now, her mind is full of thoughts about Lu Chen.
After carefully pondering over it, she relayed her answer to him through her actions.
You’re probably confused as to why she didn’t leave him?
If it was before, she would surely reject him. After all, killing is a crime.
But she has been spending a lot of time with him enough for her to know what kind of person he is. Even though he kept that a secret from her, Lu Chen didn’t seem the type of person to act in front of her.
And since he gave her his resolve and honestly told her about his secret, doesn’t that mean that Lu Chen thought about it and trusted her that she would be able to take it?
Just like what she discussed with him, the answer he gave her was this trust and honesty.
As for the killing... then let it be justified by what he said of keeping them in check.
Just like how the members of her family kill people in their line of job to protect the peace and order of the country, let’s just say that Lu Chen is assassinating people for the sake of keeping the underground city in check.
It may sound ridiculous, but what can she do?
She likes him enough to accept this other side of his. Then in the future, it’s just a matter of realizing whether she really chose the right decision or not.
With all the chaos and danger closing in on her and her family, she didn’t know what kind of future holds for her. But the only thing that she was sure of was this.
Lu Chen would never betray her. This was the confidence that he was giving her.