"Yes… She has always looked out for me, the same way I do for her.

" A compassionate smile graced her lips, reaching her eyes.

Yang Mujian studied the changes in her behavior very carefully. If she was putting on an act in front of him, she was a damn good actress, for he was convinced by her genuity.

He remembered the reports of her connection to his granddaughter. It was needless to say, the two were practically inseparable, something he had also noted the first time he encountered her.

She was an ambitious child. Even after facing his fierce and terrifying face that was warped into a permanent disapproving and disappointed scowl, she was not scared. Perhaps it was because she had encountered a similar expression on Zhao Moyao's face.

"I imagine it must be quite hard to look out for my granddaughter. She was quite the troublemaker in her youth.

"

Jing Caoxiao pulled a chair from the other side of the room and placed it behind Yang Mujian who sat down with grace and the regalness of a resigned King.

Zhao Lifei let out the tiniest laughter at his words. Her heart was still paralyzed with fear being in his presence alone and completely unguarded. However, she wisely stood her ground. It would be the stupidest thing to show him weakness now, especially when he was testing her, analyzing every single action.

"Yes, she was.

" Zhao Lifei did not bother to decline the truth just to get on his good side by praising his star granddaughter.

Yang Mujian motioned her to take a seat, something she followed immediately. He watched as she folded her dress, sat down with poise and elegance, placing her arms in front of her. She certainly demonstrated the appearance of a lady.

"But it was not hard work, as a matter of fact, I must say, I enjoyed it.

" She piped up,

"Getting her out of trouble created a lot of memorable moments that I hold dear even to this day.

"

Yang Mujian tilted his head at her words.

"It seems you two had quite the adventure. It would please me to hear of the tales you have shared with her.

"

Zhao Lifei swallowed. She wished she didn't babble so much, for she had gotten herself into a very sticky situation.

"Of course, I would be honored to tell you many.

"

A gruff and icy voice cut through the air,

"But not tonight.

"

Yang Feng stood by the door of the hospital room, standing in the direct way of the light. From her position, it looked like he was glowing, but the shadows of the room made his features a lot more sinister and eerie. With his presence, the room became noticeably colder and the air was harder to breathe.

His eyes were desolate, even after seeing Zhao Lifei sitting in the darkness with the very man who would not hesitate to slit her throat. He was furious that she was leisurely sitting here as if she was drinking tea on a summer afternoon.

Yang Mujian spoke up,

"The least you could do is knock. Where are your manners?

" He stood up with the help of Jing Caoxiao.

"The door was open, what's the point of knocking?

" Yang Feng replied, stepping into the room, hands tucked in front of him like the triad leader he was.

"Talking back is not how I raised you to be.

"

"You asked a question. I answered it.

" Yang Feng lazily drawled out, flickering on the lights, his eyes never landing upon Zhao Lifei even once.

He disregarded her as if she was air, something his grandfather noted and thoroughly approved.

"Cheeky rascal, you deserve a beating.

" Yang Mujian disapprovingly shook his head. He looked like he was disappointed in the way that Yang Feng was behaving, even though he was the very person who raised him like that.

He took the cane from Jing Caoxiao, trudged towards his grandson, and waved the stick around, tapping Yang Feng on the shoulder. It looked like it hurt terribly, especially with the loud thud, but it did not faze Yang Feng, for he knew it was a teasing tap.

"Is the matter taken care of?

" Yang Mujian quietly asked.

"Not quite, but we're almost there.

"

"What's the hold up for?

"

Yang Feng's lips tilted into a scowl, annoyed at his younger brother and Guo Sheng.

"They went overboard with the torture.

"

Yang Mujian had no doubt Yang Yulong would avenge his younger sister in the most gruesome manner.

"Keep a leash on him.

"

"I know.

"

"Take your woman home. It's too late.

" Yang Mujian left without looking back, his words leaving a heavy impact on Zhao Lifei.

She sat down, puzzled. Was...he showing concern for her?

Yang Feng stood by the door, arms folded in front of him in a menacing stance. He did not move until he heard the sound of the elevator door closing and he continued to stand there for the briefest minute. When he was sure his grandfather was gone from the premise, he waved his hand for his men to comb the hallways to make sure there was no straggler. Next, he closed the door, locking it in the process.

Even with his scrutinizing stares, heavy and filled with judgment, she did not uncomfortably squirm. She locked eyes with him, never once backing down. It was fire against water, dog against cat, they shared a silent argument through their eyes.

"Why didn't you go home?

" He finally broke the silence. He was furious when he had gotten the call from the housekeeper stating Zhao Lifei had yet to arrive home.

"Did you even eat today?

" He continued to fire questions at her,

"What were you doing alone with my grandfather? Why did you go to Ruqin's house without guards? What were you thinking? And for god's sake, why is your dress distracting me?!

"

Zhao Lifei blinked at his last question that caught both of them off-guard. She glanced down at her outfit, and then back to him.

"Huh?

"

Yang Feng looked everywhere but her. He could not believe he let the last question slip out like that.

Zhao Lifei smirked in triumph,

"What's wrong, President Yang?

" She stood up, watching as his eyes lingered on her exposed legs before he tilted them upwards.

"Is the dress too short?

" She teased, sashaying her way towards him, swinging her hips along the way.

"Don't you know?

" She asked him, wrapping her arms around his waist, enjoying the way his hardened muscles tensed under her touch.

"I should be the wife, but dress like the mistress.

"

Yang Feng rested his hand on her lower back, drawing her closer as he leaned towards her, his mouth hovering over her ears. He huskily whispered,

"Would you like to know what I have heard?

"

Zhao Lifei shivered, her body tingling in delight. His warm breath was tickling her, causing goosebumps to rise.

"A perfect man should treat his lady like a queen during the day and a mistress during the night.

"

She jumped when he suddenly nipped her ears, her cheeks beginning to burn a bright scarlet.

"Would you like me to show you?

" He smirked before his lips trailed downwards, pressing open-mouth kisses down her neck, slow and sensual, taking his sweet time with her. She grasped at his shirt and could feel her body become heated when his hands and mouth simultaneously traveled lower. His hands gave her hips a firm squeeze before hovering close to her derriere. Her body acted on its own, arching herself against him when he slowly and steadily grabbed it, a gasp leaving her lips.

"Tell me to stop.

" He whispered, his mouth getting closer and closer to her collarbone.

Zhao Lifei could feel her heart and body screaming to say no, but her rationality told her it was neither the time nor place for this.

"We should stop.

" She reluctantly said and just like that, he stopped everything he was doing. His hands locked themselves around her hips, a safe distance from her intimate areas.

"Alright, let's go home now.

" He said with a slight smile as he guided her out of the door, gently closing it behind him.

"Aren't you going to check on Ruqin?

" She asked him, her head turning towards the door.

"There's no need, you were with her the entire time.

" He trusted her more than himself when it came to Yang Ruqin. He knew without a doubt that she did a good job when it came to guarding the hospital room.

"Then who will stay with her now?

" She glanced towards the door like an overly worried mother-hen who refused to part with her children.

"My people.

" As he said that, a group of people gathered in front of the door, standing protectively in front of it.

Her eyes stayed train of them, watching as female bodyguards walked into the room to personally look after Yang Ruqin.

By not watching where she was going, Zhao Lifei tripped over her heels, nearly spraining her ankle in the process.

Wordlessly, she grabbed onto Yang Feng's bicep and took off the heels, deciding to just walk barefoot and call it a day. However, the second her foot graced the ground, she found them dangling off of Yang Feng's arms as he scooped her into his arms.

"Don't walk barefoot.

" He chuckled, carrying her towards the elevator. She snuggly rested her head on his shoulders, her body starting to relax. She was a bit tired from staying with Yang Ruqin for so long and the sudden encounter with Elder Yang drained what little energy she had remaining.

"Your parents are not going to visit her?

"

"They're coming here as we speak.

"

"But it's so late.

" She tiredly mumbled, her eyes growing heavier by the second.

"They were out of the city this morning and did not receive the news until late in the afternoon. The plane back here took a while.

"

She hummed in reply, nodding her head as she dozed off.