"Love always fades as time goes by." Zhao Lifei responded. "When people become more familiar and comfortable with each other, passion often fades faster between couples that have been together for two months in comparison to two decades."
It was the inevitable truth. Sometimes there will be lucky ones who love each other to their very last breath, but those were quite rare. For example, the love between Zhao Moyao and his wife. Even after her death, he still wore his wedding ring.
"At the very least, you're able to recognize the stage of your relationship now is only the beginning. It's just puppy-love. Once you pass through this stage, everything will be harder for you and your relationship." Hua Yuxi sighed. "Ah-Fei, I always have your best interests at heart." She fondly brushed away the strands of hair irritating Zhao Lifei's face.
"Find someone who loves you for who you are, not because you give him a hard time and are 'different from the rest.' Once you do, he'll fall for the real you, not the one you portray."
Zhao Lifei kept her mouth shut. The real her? Yang Feng saw all of it and yet, he continued to embrace her. Even when she pushed him away, he'd hug her tighter. It was a double-edged sword. He was heavily infatuated with her and because of it, she could never love another. She was pretty sure that there would be dead bodies piled up in front of her front door before she could even think about entering a relationship with another man.
"And who's to say, those men also won't get tired of me once they have unraveled the mystery of discovering who I am?"
Hua Yuxi's lips curved upwards. "Indeed, there is also that problem."
When her grandmother was not looking, Zhao Lifei glanced over her shoulder. Leaning by a wide and ancient tree was Yang Feng whose arms were folded over his chest. When their eyes met, her heart fluttered. He winked. She smiled.
"In the end, I want you to consider my words. Be wary of men like him, especially the one so powerful, from whom you could never escape." Hua Yuxi said. "If you plan to leave, leave now and never look back. Run while you still can."
Escape? Run? Did she even want to do any of that? Once all of the problems were resolved, she planned on settling down with him and having children. Starting a family of her own was something she always wanted, but her previous fear of having children got in the way. Meeting Yang Feng had changed that about her.
Zhao Lifei did not want to talk back. She could only nod her head and listen on.
- - - - -
"Are you leaving so soon? Why not stay the night? Your cousins are staying here, it would be a good opportunity to see them while you can."
'I don't want to see any of them.' Zhao Lifei kept her thoughts to herself.
"I have work tomorrow." Zhao Lifei said while standing by the car with Yang Feng right beside her. She had originally planned on staying a bit longer, but that was before she announced herself as the CEO of Feili to her employees.
"It's always work, work, work with youngsters. If not work, it's busy vacationing in Milan and shopping till you drop." Hua Yuxi bitterly said.
"Wai-po, I will come and visit you again soon. Do not worry." Zhao Lifei's lips quirked into an amused smile. "My job is never more important than you, but I have to work hard in order to save up for a family. Children are very costly to raise."
"Hmph, if that's the case, I expect frequent phone calls and a visit every month. Preferably, I would like you to come alone." Hua Yuxi briskly said, never once sparing a glance towards Yang Feng, not that he cared. For Zhao Lifei's sake, he remained calm and collected, a rigid and an unbreakable expression on his face.
"You'll see me every time she comes." Yang Feng spoke up, earning a glare from Hua Yuxi.
Zhao Lifei chuckled, patting his chest. "He has work."
"Not when you're involved." Yang Feng wrapped his fingers around her hand, pressing a kiss to her fingertips, then lacing her fingers with his. He tugged her a bit closer.
Hua Yuxi glowered at him with her upper lip curled in disdain. Smitten puppy.
- - - - -
Yang Enterprise, the next day.
"Boss, your code worked. We got through the security. Everything about him, beyond the surface, has been recovered." Chen Gaonan informed Yang Feng. Originally, he had sent in a brief report about General Jiang Zihui because not much was known about him. All of his files and background information were deeply hidden and when Chen Gaonan was able to hack into a system, he discovered a code. It was extremely complicated and only his Boss was able to crack it so quickly.
Yang Feng opened the report and intently absorbed every detail. By the end of it, the sides of the paper were crumpled from how tightly he clenched it. "Tighten the security around Zhao Lifei immediately. If she wants to go somewhere, have everything within a ten-mile radius monitored." He commanded. He did not think Jiang Zihui would be a very powerful opponent until the details were all revealed today.
"Yes, sir." Chen Gaonan typed the command into his tablet and less than five minutes later, more people joined the forces set to ensure her safety. There were always people accompanying her and nearly all of them were out of sight. Combined with the people that Zhao Moyao assigned to trail her, she was, without a doubt, one of the most heavily protected women in this country.
Yang Feng knew she was the type of woman who was too stubborn to be accompanied by physical bodyguards by her side. That was why he specifically made sure they were kept hidden and would only appear when needed. She wanted her freedom and he was trying his best to give her that. The only thing he could never give her was distance from him.
"Elder Su will want to see my grandfather with evidence. Make sure he never does."
Chen Gaonan obediently nodded his head. "Sir, we have found the culprit that sent the voice recordings and spied on Elder Yang. What shall we do with him?"
"Find out how long he has been spying on Elder Yang for and what he has heard. Then dispose of him."
"Yes, sir." Chen Gaonan typed into the tablet again.
"Also, in regards to Young Miss Ruqin's issue, we have found a bank account. It showed a record of significant amounts of money being wired into separate accounts, most likely paying everyone involved. However, we have not tracked down the owner of the account yet."
"You have a week." Yang Feng responded, picking up his pen to begin working.
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
Chen Gaonan paused what he was doing and briefly glanced at the door then back to his boss. He was confused. People rarely knocked on his door since not many were allowed entry here except for his private assistants, which currently only consisted of him. Su Meixiu was part of the team, but she was removed, so it was mainly Chen Gaonan knocking.
Yang Feng pressed a button and in strolled Lu Shanshan cladded in a black blazer, white top, and black dress pants.
Chen Gaonan was a bit taken back by her presence, but he figured it was time for a new secretary to be introduced. It was more efficient to have two people as it would allow for a check and balance system.
"Show Lu Shanshan around the office." Yang Feng commanded without looking up from his papers. He could easily pass the work onto trustful employees like Chen Gaonan, but he preferred to do it himself. That way, he was deeply immersed in the company's affairs and knew everything that was there to know.