Chapter 524: Chapter 524

Indeed, just a few seconds later, Tang Xiaowan made a hand gesture to Bai Long while answering the phone, indicating that someone was urging her, and she had to leave first.

What could he do? What else could he do?

He couldn’t possibly forcefully take her away, could he?

Returning to the dining table, Tang Xiaowan pouted heavily, pretending to be very angry.

"You took so long to call me!"

"Little thing, it hasn’t even been three minutes," Leng Lingxiao scooped some ice cream and said with a smile, "Come on, open your mouth and see if it tastes good."

While she was in the restroom, he had specifically ordered durian cheese ice cream for her.

"Cut it out, did you already know?"

"Not at all, I’m all ears."

As Tang Xiaowan was recounting the conversation content to Leng Lingxiao, Bai Long had already driven away.

A moment later, Zhao Renjie came hurrying over.

He handed a shiny golden invitation to Leng Lingxiao with a smile and then stood aside respectfully, waiting for further instructions.

"Wow, there’s a dinner party?"

Leng Lingxiao flicked Tang Xiaowan’s nose.

The invitation roughly stated that the king was hosting a dance party at seven in the evening, cordially inviting Mr. Leng and his wife to attend.

"Huahua, I feel a bit... I don’t want to go," Tang Xiaowan seemed to have thought of something, and a hint of displeasure appeared on her face, "Can we not go?"

"Do you really not want to go?" Leng Lingxiao raised an eyebrow and handed the invitation back to Zhao Renjie.

Tang Xiaowan shook her head like a peddler’s drum.

"Okay, then we won’t go."

"It’s not that I’m afraid of seeing the king, I just find it rather meaningless," Tang Xiaowan paused and asked with a frown, "Will it affect business if we don’t go?"

"Little silly, of course not."

"Oh, that’s good, then we won’t go!"

He must indulge his little wife, of course.

Leng Lingxiao knew that Li Zishen must have also received an invitation to this dance party, and the reason his little wife didn’t want to go was to avoid unnecessary troubles.

Right now, she felt like killing Yuan Min, and she certainly didn’t want to argue with Li Zishen about who was right or wrong.

Elsewhere at this time, Jin City.

Since Yuan Min was in a comatose state after taking medication, Lai Jingshan did not leave, feeling uneasy.

He had almost forgotten that this place was Nanjiang Villa. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel·fiɾe·net

Watching Yuan Min muttering to herself, Lai Jingshan’s mind trembled. Having fought side by side in the Leng Family for twenty years, it was impossible for him not to have any feelings for her.

It was just that duty outweighed the emotional stirrings.

After all, he already had a happy family, a virtuous wife, and a smart and agile daughter.

"Jingshan, what should we do?"

"I’m here, don’t worry, don’t worry."

With that, Lai Jingshan’s heart was like an ocean ravaged by tempests, unable to settle.

He held Yuan Min’s slightly trembling hands, his eyes filled with tenderness, sadness, and an indescribable sense of guilt and remorse.

I’m sorry, it’s all my fault!

If only I had restrained myself that day... perhaps the disaster wouldn’t have happened.

Zihan has been raised well by you!

He had always loved Li Zihan like an elder, never imagining that the nephew who had called him Uncle for over a decade was actually his own flesh and blood.

This surprise was too sudden!

To have a son of his own and no longer need to envy others, especially his second brother Li Wanshan.

Yet, Yuan Min’s secret collaboration with Song Dapeng equally shocked him; he could hardly believe such acts could come from a 20-year-old girl.

All for the sake of marrying into the Leng Family, by any means necessary!

On one hand, Lai Jingshan found Yuan Min to be cunning and detestable, yet on the other, he felt pity for her.

This conflicting mentality nearly drove him to the edge of breakdown.

At that moment, a knock sounded on the door.

After getting permission, Nanny Wu entered, holding a plate of freshly cut fruit.

"Madam might still need a while to wake up, you should have some fruit in the meantime," Nanny Wu said as she gently placed the plate down, her voice gentle and respectful.

Lai Jingshan turned to look at her, a flicker of complex emotions crossing his eyes.

"How long has this been happening?"

"These past few years... Madam’s sleep hasn’t been very good, but since last month... it seems to have gotten worse, and her mood has been very unstable."

"Have you changed her medication?"

"Yes, it’s changed every year. The doctor says that over time there will be drug resistance, so we need to switch it out."

"Does Zihan always come back in the evening?"

"She has to go to the newly opened Western restaurant to check the accounts at noon, it’s quite busy since it just opened, so... she only returns after finishing her classes in the afternoon."

"Alright, I understand, go on and busy yourself."

Nanny Wu nodded, silently withdrew, and gently closed the study door.

The room gradually returned to silence.

Lai Jingshan took Yuan Min’s slightly cold hand again, watching her restlessly yet, as he watched, he suddenly felt the impulse to kiss her.

In the end, he bent down and kissed her, just like he had 20 years ago, overwhelmed by his feelings.

Though gentle, it was a stirring of the heart.

In a sense, she was his first woman, and he, her first man.

By four in the afternoon, Yuan Min slowly opened her eyes, and seeing Lai Jingshan beside her, felt an indescribable touch of emotion.

Noticing the gun was no longer on the coffee table, Yuan Min knew that their misunderstanding had been resolved.

"Jingshan, thank you!"

"Come, sit up, have some water."

After drinking water and eating a few pieces of fruit, Yuan Min felt much more refreshed in her throat.

"Today’s events... I wonder if Nanny Wu will..." Lai Jingshan suddenly started, "I mean, it’s not a problem for me, but I’m worried about Zihan..."

He feared Zihan might not be able to accept it immediately.

Yuan Min shook her head, softly saying, "Nanny Wu is not an outsider, don’t worry, she won’t talk."

"Oh, that’s good... that’s good!"

"But Jingshan, what do we do next? I don’t want Zihan to be the subject of gossip, and Zishen has just... started to find his footing at the company." Yuan Min’s voice was tinged with sobs, tears sliding down her cheeks again, her body beginning to tremble.

Lai Jingshan hastily wiped her tears, his eyes full of tenderness and concern.

"Don’t be afraid, no matter what... I will protect both you and Zihan, I won’t neglect you," said Lai Jingshan, his voice low yet filled with determination, "but you have to promise me one thing, from now on, stay away from Wang Junchen."

"It’s not that I want to provoke him, he won’t let me go... otherwise why would he intentionally save you, just to make you misunderstand, purposely..."

"I know, I know, what I mean is, from now on, don’t worry about anything."

"Pretend to know nothing?"

"Yes, settle your mind, take good care of your health, you can’t be stimulated anymore, you need to recuperate, we still have a long life ahead."

"But you said... Wang Junchen may already have..."

"Don’t worry about it, just focus on getting better," Lai Jingshan interjected gently, "Wang Junchen... won’t be in a hurry to seek revenge now, especially since there’s a big celebration coming up at home."

"A celebration? What celebration? Oh, you mean... Tang Xiaowan and Leng Lingxiao’s wedding?"

Their eyes met, understanding each other.