Chapter 97 - Day 1
"Lu Chen, I will never feel scared as long as you’re by my side."
For the first time in his life, Lu Chen was dozing off during work. His eyes glued on the desktop in front of him, yet he didn’t make any progress at all. He looked so out of it that fortunately, he didn’t have any meetings scheduled later that afternoon.
Xiu Mei’s words replayed in his mind again.
He reached out and placed his hand to where his heart was. It was crazily pounding as if it was trying to escape from his body. Weirdly, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling too. He grinned like a little boy that foolishly smiled whenever he’s with his crush. That kind of feeling.
"Xiu Mei..."
His eyes trailed back to the part of the room where his two couches are. It felt like the scene a while ago was flashing before his eyes once again and he could hear Xiu Mei’s confession to him over and over again.
His hands flew to his mouth, trying to hold back the foolish-like smile that was appearing in his face.
What is this feeling?
He wondered. He was filled with the emotion of bliss. Is this what they say the feeling of love is? Or is it just a like?
He wasn’t sure. Even while chasing his wife, he kept true to his words. He didn’t only promise to protect her and become a good husband to her. He also promised her before that he will love her if the feeling he has right now isn’t still love.
Can humans really force themselves to love someone? No.
So Lu Chen was slowly learning. He was slowly learning to love Xiu Mei. Slowly, she’s becoming a precious person to him that he couldn’t let go anymore.
Living in one roof, he tried her best to know her. He wanted to know the different sides that no one knows, her habits, what she likes, and other relevant stuff that defines ’Xiu Mei’.
And now, finally knowing that Xiu Mei trusts him so much that she felt secured by his side, he held himself back from really kissing her.
She didn’t know that at that time, she looked like a prey that he wanted to ravage.
Xiu Mei... his wife.
"Wife..." That word rolled so comfortably in his mouth as if it was the most perfect name to call her with. That the endearment ’wife’ was always meant to be hers.
And that’s how the emperor CEO spent the rest of the afternoon dozing off for the first time in his life because of his wife.
The next day.
The family of three got up pretty early to prepare for the day.
Xiu Mei already packed their bags the night before so they didn’t need to do any packing that morning. After having a simple breakfast, the three of them went straight to the airport to catch their flight.
The three of them sat in the Premium Economy class seat. Their travel time is only a few hours and buying first-class for such a short flight seemed a bit too much. Also, the two of them are not planning to hide their ’dating’ status relationship at all so it was fine for both of them if someone sees them together.
They can write all they want and Xiu Mei and Lu Chen wouldn’t even care. It’s not like it’s the truth anyway.
"Why don’t you get some more sleep?" Xiu Mei proposed to Lu Chen, remembering that he was up until late last night trying to finish up some important doc.u.ments so he could free up his time today and tomorrow.
"Hmm. Then wake me up when there’s something." Pulling out his own sleeping mask, he inclined his seat and slept.
Since the big guy is asleep, Xiu Mei signaled for Lu Qiang to behave so he wouldn’t wake up his father. The little kid obediently nodded and returned to playing on his tablet. Seeing that Lu Qiang looks fine playing all by himself, she left him in his own devices and pulled out a book.
An hour passed and all the lights in the plane were now dimmed. Most of the passengers asleep in their seats and some are busy with their own stuff. Pausing from her reading, she looked both her sides and realized that the two men with her were now all dead asleep.
Xiu Mei found them very adorable at that moment so she couldn’t help but giggle.
She was about to return to reading her book when she suddenly felt a heavy gaze in her direction. Growing up in a military family or maybe it runs in her blood, she could quickly feel when someone is looking at her.
Though most of the time, she usually shrugs it off whenever she feels a gaze on her. But this time, she felt a bit nervous. She doesn’t know if it’s because she’s afraid that maybe that person eyeing her is dangerous or if it’s because right now, she’s worried over her son and Lu Chen.
She stiffened in her seat, as she waited for that heavy feeling to disappear. She was quickly distracted by the flight attendant that was asking if she wanted some juice or water. After that short exchange with the flight attendant, Xiu Mei realized that the heavy feeling was now gone.
She sighed, her eyes shifting in between Lu Chen and Lu Qiang. Maybe she was just getting paranoid?
Shaking her head, she immediately shrugged the thought in her head and returned to reading her book.
Beside her, she didn’t notice that Lu Chen was already awake for quite a while. He stayed still for a few minutes as if he was waiting for something. Gradually, he relaxed and returned to his slumber.
After that 4-hour flight, someone picked them up from the airport and dropped them off at the hotel. After receiving the key to the president suite, the three of them took a short rest at the living room while waiting for their meal to be delivered in their suite.
"Dad, the security system here is terrible." Lu Qiang blurted out while he was playing with his tablet. Lu Chen who was sitting beside him leaned over to look at his screen and replied in agreement to his statement.
Hearing their exchange, Xiu Mei couldn’t help but be speechless. It felt like her normal and average IQ took a hit after listening to them.
Damn it! Was that how two geniuses look like when they talk about something as if the topic they were talking about were something normal?
I mean, who arrives at the hotel and sits down for a few minutes then just tells off that their security system sucks?
That did not sound a normal conversation at all!
"You hacked their security?" She raised her left eyebrow as she probed.
Xiu Mei sat separately from them so she couldn’t easily lean over to see what’s on Lu Qiang’s tablet. And even if she could, god knows she won’t even understand whatever is flashing on that thing at all.
"No, I just tested it, Mom." Lu Qiang exclaimed while keeping his head down to look at his tablet.
"..." So he did?
Xiu Mei quickly gave up and did not try asking him anymore. She didn’t really want to know what they’re talking about anymore because somehow, she has this gut feeling that the less she knows, the better.
Heck, it hasn’t really fully registered in her brain that Lu Qiang was a tech genius. At that age. Like how do you become a tech genius at such a young age?
It’s not she can just buy something in the bookstore and memorize it and voila! She can hack everything now.
She looked at Lu Chen who was pointing out something in Lu Qiang’s tablet. Something clicked inside her head after seeing that.
Well, if it was Lu Chen, he does look like a person that would teach a kid about technology and stuff. He wouldn’t probably even realize that the topic he was teaching was so difficult for a normal kid to learn, but since that kid is Lu Qiang, it works.
Xiu Mei lamented her current situation. She scratched her chin as she worried.
But is this really fine? Hacking a private hotel... isn’t that illegal?
Her thoughts were cut off with the sound of the doorbell ringing. Immediately, her paranoia kicked in.
Is that the police?! They’re here?! They tracked them that fast and arrived at the hotel in such a short time?
Lu Chen stood up from his seat to open the door. Xiu Mei wanted to stop him from opening the door, but Lu Chen just looked at the doorhole then finally opened the door.
Seeing the cart full of food being pushed into the room, Xiu Mei felt like hitting herself.
Gawd, she was imagining too much. What was she even thinking? Stupid Xiu Mei.
Looks like she should have a short nap to stop her from being too paranoid ah.