King Jingyao listened to his mother speak, his eyes slightly red, and an indescribable feeling inside his heart.

The old lady usually didn’t say much, and he was busy, rarely visiting them. The old lady had even said she wouldn’t force him to marry, didn’t expect much. But now, seeing how happy the old lady was, he realized it was out of care that she didn’t push for it. Jiang Chaoge was his compromise, and now he realized how much the old lady cares for him.

King Jingyao sighed inwardly, feeling a bittersweet sensation, and then thoughts of Lin Hua softened him once more.

In short, it was like an old house catching fire.

Early in the morning, it was the driver Yuan Sheng who picked him up. Yuan Sheng, looking through the rearview mirror, laughed cheerfully: "Mr. Wang looks different today."

"Oh, how do I look different?" King Jingyao hung up the phone, placed it aside, and said lazily.

Yuan Sheng laughed: "It just feels different. As for how it’s different, I can’t say exactly. If Jingchuan were here, he’d definitely see right through it."

Old Wang chuckled: "Stop bringing him up, he’s just too sharp."

He fiddled with his phone again, and after a while, checked the time, wondering if Lin Hua would wake up, what she’d think when she did, but then he decided she probably wouldn’t wake up anytime soon.

And so he went about his work weighed down by thoughts, attending meetings, making mistakes left and right, especially during the meetings where he kept checking his phone, looking like a teenager in first love...

The newly appointed temporary secretary-general kept sighing, not daring to say anything.

It wasn’t until ten thirty in the morning that Old Wang’s phone finally rang, and he was delighted. Without even looking, he answered, "Awake?"

But it wasn’t Lin Hua on the other end, but Gu Anxi. Gu Anxi had something that the old lady instructed to give to King Jingyao. She’d left it in the trunk for quite a while and had forgotten about it. Passing by, she called to inform him, though she thought his response seemed strange. Awake from what?

On the other end, Gu Anxi spoke up quickly: "Looks like Dr. Jiang is about to become Mrs. Wang." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Stop talking nonsense," Old Wang said irritably. "What’s up?"

Gu Anxi explained the situation and glanced outside: "I’m almost at your villa. Should I leave it with the security or take it inside? It’s quite valuable, so you decide."

King Jingyao’s heart trembled upon hearing this.

That would not do. If Lin Hua woke up and happened to see, her thin-skinned nature would definitely not be able to handle it. Besides, he hadn’t planned to make this widely known yet.

Old Wang immediately said: "Leave it with the security, that’s fine."

Gu Anxi simply said okay, and when she parked the car at the villa’s entrance and stepped out, the guard came over, smiling: "Miss Anxi, why didn’t you drive in?"

"Just delivering something," Gu Anxi said as she opened the trunk, and the guard moved things out. Then he asked, "Are you leaving already?"

Gu Anxi rolled down her car window: "Yes, I have some other things to do."

She suddenly asked: "Was it Lin Hua who came over last night?"

The guard dared not say, still fearing King Jingyao, but his expression betrayed him. Gu Anxi smiled, took a package of goodies from the passenger seat, and tossed it to him: "This is for you."

With that, she hit the gas and drove off.

The guard stood there, looking at the items, estimating they were worth nearly twenty thousand. Little Gu was indeed generous, always leaving him good things when she came.

Gu Anxi already knew Lin Hua had stayed there, and her not leaving meant King Jingyao had plans for her. Lin Hua would certainly become Mrs. Wang, which meant trouble for someone.

She also thought that the quick decision from King Jingyao was largely due to Wang Jingchuan’s mediation. This Wang Jingchuan was not bad; it was just that the master and servant pair were quite amusing—one dangling Jiang Chaoge and another undercover near her. In the end, no one expected Lin Hua to break through.

Gu Anxi chuckled, very pleased...

In the villa, it remained quiet. All the help dared not speak loudly, working with great care, making not a single sound, for fear of disturbing the future mistress.

Around eleven in the morning, Lin Hua finally woke up.

She opened her eyes to see the light beige ceiling, the white bed curtains gently stirring, occasionally brushing her face. She turned her head slightly, noticing a white bathrobe casually thrown at the bedside.

It was King Jingyao’s.

Memories surged like a tide...

Her face felt a little hot. She got out of bed, went to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and splashed her face with water. Looking at herself in the mirror, she felt almost too embarrassed to look... Her face grew even hotter. She quickly freshened up, changed her clothes, and went downstairs.

She actually didn’t want to face the Wang Family’s help. She was a traditional woman, not knowing what others might think of her. She also knew the price she’d pay when the story got out after today.

The Feng family might look down on her, her mother wouldn’t understand her, and once Jiang Chaoge gained power, he might suppress her. She might have no place to stand in Beicheng. But none of that mattered. She didn’t want Feng Sheng to die in vain, and if she couldn’t do anything else, she didn’t mind sacrificing herself...

Carrying these thoughts, Lin Hua slowly descended the stairs, and as soon as she reached the bottom, the housekeeper warmly greeted her: "Miss Lin, you’re awake. Should we prepare breakfast or lunch for you?"

Lin Hua hesitated, instinctively saying: "I’m not eating. I’ll leave now."

The housekeeper smiled: "It was the gentleman who instructed that you should call him when you woke up. Also, your car has been sent for maintenance and will be delivered back at dusk. The gentleman hopes you will rest well today, and he’ll be back to keep you company tonight."

Lin Hua was a bit shocked.

She thought it was a transaction, but King Jingyao left her there wanting her to stay with him? He wouldn’t be with Jiang Chaoge, and wasn’t he afraid of being found out?

Of course, she couldn’t lose her temper at the Wang Family’s help, so she sat at the dining table where lunch was promptly served, all of it very nourishing and good for women.

Lin Hua sipped a small bowl of soup, not having much appetite, and then picked up her phone, dialing King Jingyao’s number.

King Jingyao answered almost immediately.

As the call connected, neither knew what to say, given how their relationship had changed. Ten years ago, when they first met, she was still in her early twenties, full of talent, and he had a wife by his side.

Ten years later, his wife had passed, he had let her down, and after all the chaos, they found their way back to each other.

King Jingyao felt a whirlwind of emotions, a mix of sourness and sweetness. He spoke first: "Are you feeling okay?"

Lin Hua lowered her eyes: "I’m still..."

He laughed: "As long as you’re okay. By the way, your car’s in for a maintenance, and it’s quite hot out, so stay in the villa and rest. My study has quite a few books you’re welcome to read."

Lin Hua, a bit distracted, asked: "How long do you want me to stay with you?"

Stay with him for how long?

King Jingyao paused for a few seconds, surprised. What did she mean by that... did she think he was that kind of man?

Annoyed but keeping his tone gentle, he said, "What do you think?"

He tossed the question back at her, and Lin Hua didn’t know how to respond for a moment, falling silent.

Feeling satisfied with the change in tone, Old Wang switched to a softer voice: "Alright, let’s talk when I come back tonight, okay?"

Lin Hua agreed.

But she wasn’t the kind of woman to blindly accept anything. In the afternoon, she left first, and none of the help dared inform King Jingyao. When he returned, he found the house empty...

(The next update is at seven tomorrow morning ~ The previous two Chapters were removed at midnight)