Back at the manor, the heavy iron gate slowly closed behind the car, completely isolating the outside noise and danger. But the stagnant air inside the carriage and the invisible estrangement between the two could not dissipate along with it.
There was no conversation all the way.
Lu Tingchen's expression remained gloomy all the time, and his jawline was taut. He got out of the car first. Instead of reaching out to support her as usual, he walked straight towards the main house, his steps fast and hurried, with a suppressed rage.
Su Wanwan pushed open the car door by herself and followed him with a somewhat unsteady gait. Looking at his cold and hard back, her heart felt as if it were tightly grasped by an invisible hand, sour and painful. She knew that this time it was her fault, and it was outrageously wrong.
Entering the living room, the nanny came up with the newly awakened little Lu Chen in her arms. When the little one saw his parents, he immediately stretched out his little hand and babbled for a hug.
Lu Tingchen's steps came to a halt. He turned around, and the frost on his face melted a little at the moment he saw his son's innocent smile. He reached out to take his son, skillfully held him in his arms, and rubbed his chin against the soft top of the child's hair. His movements were still gentle, but the gloom in his brows had not completely dissipated.
Su Wanwan stood aside, watching the interaction between the father and son, and her eyes couldn't help but warm up again. She stepped forward, also wanting to give the child a hug, as if only in this way could she draw a little warmth and courage.
Lu Tingchen, however, turned sideways to avoid her hand, his voice flat and emotionless: "You go up and rest first. I'll stay with him for a while." "
The outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and Su Wanwan's heart sank hard. He... Rejected her. This silent estrangement made her feel more uncomfortable than any scolding.
She bit her lower lip, made a low "mm" sound, turned around and silently went upstairs back to the bedroom.
The faint fragrance of choosing a dress before going out still lingers in the bedroom, but at this moment, it only feels cold. She took off her coat, sat feebly by the bedside, looking at the brilliant diamond ring on her ring finger, and tears slid down silently.
Downstairs, Lu Tingchen was holding his son and strolling slowly in the living room. The little fellow seemed to sense that his father was in a bad mood and leaned against his arms unusually obediently, playing with the buttons of his shirt.
Lu Tingchen's heart was in a complete mess. Anger, fear, disappointment, heartache... All kinds of emotions are intertwined and churning. I was angry at her lack of trust, afraid that something might really happen to her, and even more hated myself for not being able to protect her better, leaving her to face these storms alone.
Of course, he knew that she longed for the truth and understood the pain and confusion in her heart. But he couldn't accept that she was exploring in such a nearly self-destructive way. Today's shooting incident has completely crushed his bottom line.
I don't know how much time had passed when the child in my arms began to rub his eyes and yawn slightly. Lu Tingchen handed his son over to the nanny to take him to sleep.
He stood alone in the spacious living room, silent for a long time. Eventually, he still stepped upstairs.
The main light in the bedroom was not on; only a dim wall lamp was on. Su Wanwan curled up on the sofa as if she were asleep, but her slightly trembling shoulders revealed the fact that she wasn't asleep at all.
Lu Tingchen walked to the sofa, stopped and looked down at her from a height.
The shadow fell, and Su Wanwan held her breath nervously.
Do you know you were wrong? His voice rang out in the quiet room, deep and hoarse, with a hint of fatigue.
Su Wanwan's tears streamed down even more fiercely. She sat up, raised her head, looked at him with teary eyes, and choked out, "I'm sorry..." I really know I was wrong... I shouldn't have disbelieved you. I shouldn't have gone there by myself... I almost got you into trouble...
Looking at her red eyes from crying and her face full of remorse, the ice wall in Lu Tingchen's heart finally collapsed completely.
He sighed, sat down beside her, reached out his hand, and pulled her into his arms with all his might, holding her tightly as if he wanted to blend her into his very flesh and blood, never to part again.
"Idiot." He cursed in a low voice, but the anger in his tone vanished, leaving only a deep concern and lingering fear that couldn't be dissolved. "Are you going to scare me to death?" If that bullet had been a little off..." He couldn't go on and drew his arms tighter.
Feeling the warmth and forgiveness in his embrace, Su Wanwan could no longer hold back her tears and burst into tears in his arms, pouring out all her fear, grievance and regret.
Lu Tingchen didn't say a word. He just silently held her, gently patted her back, and let her tears soak his shirt.
When she had almost finished crying and her emotions had gradually calmed down, he spoke again. His voice returned to its usual composure, but carried an unprecedented solemnity:
"Wanwan, look at me." "
Su Wanwan raised her head, her eyes swollen and red like those of a rabbit.
I understand your desire to know everything. He gazed into her eyes, word by word, as clear as ever, "But I hope you understand that some darkness is enough for me to face alone." Your safety, Chenchen's safety, is more important than any truth. This is my inescapable responsibility as a husband and father, and it is also my bottom line.
He held her face in his hands and wiped away the tear stains on her cheeks with his thumb: "I can tell you everything I know, without reservation." But the condition is that you must promise me that you won't take risks alone anymore and won't easily doubt my arrangements. Any action must be informed to me in advance. Can it be done?"
This is not an order but a consultation, a contract based on respect to protect her.
Su Wanwan looked into his eyes as deep as the sea, which were filled with love, concern and unquestionable seriousness for her. She nodded vigorously, her voice still tinged with a hint of crying, but was resolute: "Yes!" I promise you! I will never..."
"Ok." " Lu Tingchen finally showed his first genuine smile of the day, Tinged with a hint of relief. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Then let's talk about that USB drive now, and..." "Everything."
He got up and went to the study to fetch the laptop and the even more lethal USB drive he had brought back from the cafe.
That night, the light in the bedroom stayed on for a long time.
Lu Tingchen, without reservation, shared everything he knew about the P.P. Foundation, Jiang Yue's death, his mother Li Qingya's investigation, the early disgraceful involvement of the Lu family, and all his subsequent investigations and liquidation actions... And all his complicated and indescribable doubts about Lin Wanru were told to Su Wanwan.
He showed her some chains of evidence and explained his concerns and plans.
Su Wanwan listened quietly, her heart surging with emotion. Sometimes she was angry, sometimes she was sad, but more importantly, she felt deep concern for the man beside her. He has shouldered so much all by himself, struggling to balance the family's interests, past SINS and the protection of her, with every step taken as if treading on thin ice.
She finally understood that behind his previous concealment and assertiveness, there was such heavy pressure and bottomless love.
After being honest, the thin ice that lay between the two of them completely melted away. Even closer than before, because they truly became Allies sharing all secrets and facing the darkness together.
"So, Mom..." " Su Wanwan hesitated and spoke.
"I'm still checking." " Lu Tingchen's eyes dimmed. "I won't draw a conclusion until there's conclusive evidence." But she does have many behaviors that cannot be explained by common sense.
Su Wanwan held his hand tightly and said, "No matter what, let's face it together."
"Um." " Lu Tingchen held her in the opposite direction, his fingers tightly clasped.
Outside the window, the dawn is just beginning to break and the sky is about to brighten.
After a night of long talks, tears and candor, the intense turmoil seemed to have temporarily passed, and the deep rift began to heal under the pouring of trust and love.
However, they all knew that the gunshots at the cafe and Aunt Zhou's appearance meant that the enemy lurking in the deepest part had become desperate and was no longer content to lie in wait.
A greater storm is gathering strength in the dawn's light.
But this time, they were shoulder to shoulder.
(To be continued...)"