One month had easily pa.s.sed, and Lu Xinyi came home to an empty house. Her husband and her children were nowhere to be found.
What was the point of winning the top prize of the World Patisserie Challenge if she wouldn’t be able to share this achievement with Shen Yi and their children? It had been two weeks, and she hadn’t heard a single word from her husband. Where the h.e.l.l was he by now? She wondered.
Summer had ended, and the city was reeling under the onslaught of the continuous rain since her arrival yesterday. The sun refused to show up that morning. For a long time, Lu Xinyi laid on the bed the whole morning, the weather outside empathizing with her mood.
Her thoughts were disturbed by a knock on her door. How long had she been staring in a daze anyway?
“Miss, your breakfast is ready.” She heard Jiao Jiao’s timid voice outside her door.
Not long after, Lu Xinyi came down to eat breakfast still in her nightgown.
The dining room was lit by the lamps as the heavy rain outside continued to pour, and the gray sky seemed to have more rain to give later. Xiao Bai lifted his head up when he heard Lu Xinyi’s footsteps and followed her in the dining room. He curled on the floor next to her and purred when Lu Xinyi rubbed his head gently.
“I’m glad you’re still here, Xiao Bai. Just what happened while I was gone?” She sighed dejectedly. She knew that the twins were staying with her father-in-law, but she was more worried about her husband.
“Let’s pick up my babies later, okay? I can’t wait to see them,” she whispered to her white tiger.
For the past year, Lu Xinyi had never had her meals alone. It was always that the twins and her husband were there to accompany her. Her situation right now reminded her of her days being alone after her Grandma Lu’s pa.s.sing. She didn’t think there would be a day she would feel this kind of loneliness once again.
As she looked at the dishes served for breakfast, Lu Xinyi found herself with no appet.i.te to eat anything. However, under Jiao Jiao’s expectant gaze, she forced herself to have a few bites until she pushed her plate away.
Zhang Qing was standing on one side with a conflicted expression on her face. She didn’t know how she should tell the news to her that Boss Yi had been found.
She picked up today’s newspaper much to Zhang Qing and Jiao Jiao’s horror. This wasn’t usual for their miss to do after breakfast. Lu Xinyi put the newspaper back on the table when her eyes widened.
She stilled for a few seconds and then looked at the entertainment news article that took her attention. At this moment, her heart was turbulent; but on the surface, she looked extremely calm.
After her successful acquisition of the Sun Corporation, she’d always been a talk of the town. From her outstanding performance at Silver Leaf, saving Flair Apparel from bankruptcy, to her underhanded ways in taking over her maternal family’s business; people had different opinions about her.
This time, it wasn’t her name that appeared on the headlines… but her husband’s. Shen Yi was spotted in a hotel walking alongside a beautiful woman. The woman was identified as the Li family’s princess, Li Qiao.
Seeing her expression, Zhang Qing immediately started speaking, her voice had a hint of nervousness on it.
“Miss, Boss Yi… he…”
Indeed, their Boss Yi was spotted by media personnel at the capital last night; but they also had no idea how he ended up appearing with Li Qiao when he knew his wife was supposed to arrive the same night.
“I see that he’s back and alive, alright. But how come he has time to accompany her ex-girlfriend knowing that yesterday was also my arrival from abroad?” Lu Xinyi scoffed and folded back the newspaper. She brought the cup of tea to her lips and closed her eyes.
Her expression showed irritation obvious to her bodyguard’s discerning stare. She was somewhat relieved to know that her husband was safe and alive, but she couldn’t understand why he was with Li Qiao the night before.
“What did Qiao He say about this?” she asked Zhang Qing. It would be impossible for Qiao He not to be aware of such circ.u.mstances involving Shen Yi. He was her husband’s most trusted right-hand man.
“He said that the news article was malicious. Indeed, Boss Yi met with Miss Li last night, but Miss Li left the hotel afterward. Qiao He left last night to check on Boss Yi, and they haven’t returned yet,” Her trusted bodyguard explained.
They still had no idea what happened for the past two weeks, but Shen Yi’s appearance the same day of their arrival could possibly mean that he went into hiding. As for the reason why he needed to hide? The b.l.o.o.d.y Wolves had no idea.
So it was like this… Lu Xinyi thought. She nodded and intended to return to her room to take a short nap. If Shen Yi said it was nothing, then she wouldn’t question his faithfulness unless he explains to her what happened last night. So far, Shen Yi had never given her a reason to question his loyalty until now.
“Miss, don’t forget. The academy is throwing a celebration party for you and Miss Han tonight.” Jiao Jiao reminded her. “Should I confirm your attendance?”
“Yes, I already confirmed my attendance with Headmistress Han.”
After nodding to affirm that she heard Jiao Jiao, she stood up from the table. “I’m going to take a nap. Don’t disturb unless it’s important.”
Neither of her bodyguards stopped her this time. Lu Xinyi had gone all the way to the bottom of the stair when she suddenly stopped and regarded Zhang Qing.
“Please pick up the twins for me.” Then, she s.h.i.+fted her gaze to Jiao Jiao. “Jiao Jiao should prepare my dress for the party later.”