The morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains and gently fell upon the large bed in the bedroom.
Su Wanwan woke up in a warm and reassuring sense of being surrounded. She found herself completely in Lu Tingchen's arms. His arms were firm and stable, lying across her waist, his chin gently touching the top of her hair, and his breathing was even and steady.
This was the first time they slept in the same bed until dawn. There was no awkwardness or discomfort as imagined; only an indescribable sense of closeness and security. The thrilling moments and heavy mysteries of last night seem to have been somewhat dispelled by this morning light.
She moved carefully, trying to look up to see if he was awake.
Immediately, a magnetic voice with a hint of hoarseness, characteristic of his waking up, came from above: "Awake?"
Su Wanwan's cheeks instantly flushed. She gave a soft "Mm-hmm" and felt embarrassed to move any further.
Lu Tingchen's arms, however, tightened a little, holding her even tighter in his embrace, as if he were holding some rare treasure. After last night's candor and that comforting embrace, the invisible barrier between the two seemed to have melted away a lot.
It's still early. I'll sleep a little longer. He closed his eyes and his voice was lazy, a far cry from the cold and noble Mr. Lu she usually saw.
This rare sense of laziness and intimacy made Su Wanwan's heart beat faster involuntarily. She obediently curled up in his arms, savoring the tranquility and warmth of the early morning, hoping that time could stand still at this moment forever.
However, this tranquility did not last long.
Lu Tingchen's personal mobile phone placed on the bedside table suddenly vibrated, breaking the warmth of the entire room.
Lu Tingchen frowned slightly, clearly displeased by this disturbance. He reached out and took the phone. When he saw the caller ID, his eyes instantly became sharp and clear - it was Qin Hao.
Su Wanwan could sense that the aura around him had instantly changed, shifting from being lazy and relaxed to being fully alert.
"Speak." " He picked up the phone, his voice returning to its usual calmness.
On the other end of the phone, Qin Hao had said something. Lu Tingchen's expression darkened at a visible speed, and his eyes turned cold and terrifying.
"Are you sure?" His voice was deep, carrying a hint of suppressed anger.
"... Ok, I see. Keep a close eye on the person. I'll be there right away."
He hung up the phone and sat up abruptly, exuding a terrifying air of depression all around him.
What's wrong? What happened? Su Wanwan also sat up, looking at his tense profile with concern.
Lu Tingchen took a deep breath, seemingly trying to suppress his surging emotions. He turned his head and tried to keep his tone calm: "There's something urgent at the company that needs me to deal with immediately." "Take a little more rest. I'll have breakfast delivered." "
As he spoke, he quickly got out of bed and walked towards the cloakroom, his movements swift and efficient.
Su Wanwan's heart, however, tightened. It's definitely not an ordinary company emergency! His expression just now was so terrifying as if he were going to kill someone. Has the investigation come to an end? Or has something happened to my elder sister again?
Barefoot, she chased after him to the door of the cloakroom. Watching him quickly change into his suit, she couldn't help but ask, "Is it..." Is it related to Grandpa's matter? Or... "Shen Zhe?"
Lu Tingchen paused for a moment as he tied his tie. Looking into her worried eyes through the mirror, he was silent for a moment. Eventually, he chose to be candid: "Mm-hmm." Shen Hong has been found.
Su Wanwan held her breath: "He..." How's it going?"
Lu Tingchen's eyes instantly froze, and he uttered two words: "Dead."
Su Wanwan was so shocked that she covered her mouth and her eyes widened.
Just three days after the old man fell ill, he suffered a sudden heart attack and died in that sanatorium abroad. The news was completely sealed off, and even few people in the Shen family knew about it. Lu Tingchen's voice was so cold that it had no trace of warmth at all. "And just a week before he died, he had met his grandpa."
Another coincidence? No, there aren't that many coincidences in this world!
Grandpa fell ill, Shen Hong passed away, Shen Zhe behaved abnormally, and Grandpa arranged for her to marry in his place... All of this strung together points to a chilling possibility!
Su Wanwan felt a chill run up from the soles of her feet: "Well..." That grandpa..."
It was no accident that Grandpa's condition suddenly worsened after seeing Shen Hong. Lu Tingchen tied his tie, turned around and looked at her with a deep gaze. "Shen Hong's death was by no means a simple illness."
This means that there might be something behind it... Murder? !
This realization made Su Wanwan shiver all over.
Lu Tingchen walked up to her, cupped her cold face and looked at her with determination: "Don't be afraid." I will handle these matters. "Stay at home obediently. Don't go anywhere and don't answer anyone's calls. Wait for me to come back."
His exhortation carried an unprecedented seriousness.
Su Wanwan was in a complete mess and could only nod blankly.
Lu Tingchen lowered his head, left a hasty yet extremely solemn kiss on her forehead, and then strode away.
In an instant, Su Wanwan was the only one left in the apartment. The warmth and sweetness just now vanished completely, replaced by a great deal of unease and fear.
She walked to the living room in a daze, looking out of the window at the bustling city, but felt extremely cold. Grandpa, the Shen family, death... All of this was far beyond her comprehension.
Just then, her mobile phone suddenly rang! Another unfamiliar number!
Su Wanwan's heart gave a sudden jolt. Remembering Lu Tingchen's words of advice, she subconsciously wanted to hang up.
But by some strange twist of fate, she thought of her missing sister, of Shen Hong who might have passed away, and of Shen Zhe who behaved strangely... Will this call bring any news?
After much struggle, she finally trembled and pressed the answer button, but didn't speak first.
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone. Then came a voice that she was somewhat familiar with, yet extremely tired and hoarse:
"... Wanwan?"
It's Shen Zhe!
Su Wanwan's heart tightened instantly: "Shen Zhe?" ! Where are you? Where is my sister? "!"
Mingwei is safe. I can't tell you where we are for the time being. Shen Zhe's voice sounded extremely tired, even carrying a hint of despair. "Listen, Wanwan, time is running out." Let me make a long story short."
My father... It's not a normal death. He was silenced! Because he discovered a secret, a secret about Grandpa Lu and your father!"
Su Wanwan's breathing suddenly stopped!
Twenty years ago, a major safety accident occurred at a real estate project of the Lu family, resulting in the deaths of several workers. At that time, the person in charge of the project was your father and Lu Tingchen's father! To cover up the truth and protect the project and the reputation of the Lu family, they joined forces to forge the report and suppress this matter!"
And my father... He was one of the project's partners at that time. By chance, he learned the truth but was forced to remain silent. This matter became a lifelong worry for him and also a handle for Grandpa Lu to take advantage of him!"
Su Wanwan felt as if struck by lightning, her whole body icy cold! Father... Have you actually been involved in such a thing? !
It was not until some time ago that my father happened to discover that the truth behind the accident back then might have some hidden reasons and could even involve more serious inside stories. He went to confront Grandpa Lu... Then, I had a sudden heart attack.
Shen Zhe's voice was filled with deep hatred and pain: "Wanwan, the Lu family is far darker than you can imagine!" All the kindness Lu Tingchen shows you now might just be acting! He might have known everything long ago. He spoiled you and protected you, perhaps just to better control you, to make you shut up, or... When necessary in the future, let you be the scapegoat!"
"Leave him!" Wanwan! Before it's too late! Leave Jiangcheng! Stay far away from the Lu family!" Shen Zhe's voice was urgent and desperate.
Su Wanwan held the mobile phone, her whole body shaking uncontrollably and her mind going blank. Father's dark past, the conspiracy of the Lu family, the threat of death... Shen Zhe's words were like heavy hammers, shattering the world she had just built into pieces!
Could Lu Tingchen's tenderness and protection really all be fake? Just to control her?
No... She doesn't believe... That man who would stay with her in the dead of night, shield her from drinking and wipe her tears, and say "It all depends on the outcome", how could he...
Just then, the doorbell of the apartment suddenly rang urgently!
At the same time, Shen Zhe on the other end of the phone seemed to have heard some commotion and his voice suddenly changed: "They've found me!" Remember my words! "Leave Lu..."
The call came to an abrupt halt, leaving only a busy signal.
The doorbell was still ringing wildly, accompanied by a rapid knock on the door!
Su Wanwan was so frightened that her soul almost left her body. Her mobile phone slipped from her hand and fell to the ground.
Who's outside? Is it Lu Tingchen who's back? Or... What did Shen Zhe mean by "them"?
Immense fear seized her. She curled up on the sofa, not daring to move at all, and tears rolled down helplessly.
It seemed as if the world had completely collapsed at this moment.
At this moment, Lu Tingchen, who was driving to the company, received an urgent message from his bodyguard:
The lady answered a call from an unknown number that lasted for three minutes and twenty-seven seconds. After the call ended, she was extremely emotional and broke down.
The number has been verified to be an unregistered backup number of Shen Zhe.
Lu Tingchen's face instantly darkened to the extreme, and he punched the steering wheel hard!
"Turn around and go home right now!" "
He's still a step too late! Shen Zhe did contact her indeed! What on earth did he say to her? !
An unprecedented sense of panic suddenly seized Lu Tingchen's heart.