Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

The cool morning air, mixed with the fresh scent of soil and grass moistened by the night dew, flowed into the master bedroom through the half-open window.

Outside the window, the Qian family manor was bathed in the rising sun. The meticulously manicured lawn shimmered with golden light, and the artificial lake in the distance sparkled. Everything seemed peaceful and serene, as if the tenderness and comfort that had cleansed the soul the night before had quietly blended into the morning light, smoothing out the wrinkles left by the storms of the past few days.

Lu Yang stood barefoot on the smooth teak floor, his tall figure leaning against the huge floor-to-ceiling window frame.

He had just put down his phone; the screen still retained a little warmth. But the chilling aftertaste of that brief call from faraway France was like an invisible thorn, deeply piercing his heart and causing his relaxed brows to furrow again.

Du Lingling's voice came from across thousands of miles, and beneath her deliberately maintained calmness lay an unconcealable weariness and alienation, like a needle chilled to ice, precisely piercing the softest corner of his heart.

The resolute "Don't come looking for me," and her deliberate emphasis on "peace and safety" when mentioning the child in her womb, as if seeking some kind of declaration of independence, weighed heavily on his heart.

He tried to call back almost the instant he hung up.

The monotonous, rapid busy tone from the receiver ruthlessly declared the other party's determination to refuse to speak.

Like her, she once again disappeared into the mist of that unfamiliar, deliberately chosen, "unknown" white town.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Yang immediately dialed Xiao Jiu's number.

The call connected, and Xiao Jiu's voice, slightly hoarse from just waking up, yet with his usual respectful tone, came through: "Brother Yang?"

"Have you found the exact location of Sister Lingling yet?" Lu Yang's voice was deep and he got straight to the point.

"Brother Yang, not yet." Xiao Jiu's tone was tinged with frustration and urgency. "I've narrowed it down to a large area southwest of Frankfurt based on the previous clues, but it will take time to investigate the specific towns. I just arrived at the outskirts and was preparing to go deeper..."

"No need to investigate anymore." Lu Yang interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "You've already been discovered. Withdraw immediately."

"Found out? I..." Xiao Jiu's voice clearly carried surprise and a hint of barely perceptible panic, obviously unprepared for this news.

"I don't want to explain the specific reasons. You're withdrawing, and the mission is terminated."

I will have Ah Long directly transfer a group of new faces from the overseas base. You will be the commander-in-chief, guiding them to find the people. They will be responsible to you, and you will be responsible to me.

There is only one goal: to determine Sister Lingling's exact whereabouts.

Remember, it must be done secretly; you must not alert them!

Once the location was determined, the mission shifted to long-term protective surveillance.

Every three days, she would give me a detailed report on her current life, focusing on her physical condition, safety, and whether she was being disturbed by outsiders.

Ensure her absolute personal safety and that her life is not disturbed by any unimportant or potentially troublesome people.

Understand? "

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then Xiao Jiu's voice became serious and firm: "Understood! Brother Yang! I'll go back immediately. Make sure the follow-up manpower is in place and the mission requirements are clear and unambiguous!" He knew Du Lingling's special circumstances and understood the heavy sense of urgency in Lu Yang's tone.

"Okay," Lu Yang replied and hung up the phone.

He gazed at the tranquil manor scenery outside the window, but his eyes pierced through the tranquility and landed on some unknown corner of distant France.

He ultimately did not heed Du Lingling's advice to "not come looking for me."

How could he not be at ease without seeing her safe and sound, especially since she was pregnant and in a foreign country?

The so-called "Andersen's fairy tale kingdom" has always existed only in beautiful fantasies.

A pregnant Asian woman alone in a white-dominated society is inherently a vulnerable group, facing numerous unpredictable risks.

He, Lu Yang, would never allow her to make any further mistakes.

Just then, soft footsteps sounded behind me, accompanied by an enticing aroma of food.

Qian Youyou carried an exquisite tray, on which were perfectly fried soft-boiled eggs, golden and crispy toast, freshly cut fruit salad, and two steaming cups of milk.

She wore a simple beige apron, and her bare face carried a hint of morning languor and a satisfied smile, carrying the special intimacy from last night into this new day.

"Is it something very important?" She carefully placed the tray on the low table beside the bed, looked up and saw Lu Yang still standing by the window, his brows furrowed as he held his phone. She couldn't help but ask softly, her tone full of concern, "You don't look too good. Why don't you go ahead and get busy? I'll save breakfast for you."

Lu Yang had just finished his call with Xiao Jiu. Hearing her gentle voice, the annoyance and worry he felt because of Du Lingling were instantly suppressed.

He quickly suppressed all his emotions, put on a relaxed smile, turned around and walked towards her, while decisively placing his phone screen-down back on the bedside table.

"It's nothing." He said casually, naturally taking the milk cup she handed him, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against the warm back of her hand. "Everything's fine at the company, very stable. It's that guy Xiao Jiu. I asked him to do some personal errands for me recently, but that kid is so slow and inefficient. I was just scolding him on the phone. He can't even handle such a small matter properly."

As Lu Yang's third bodyguard after Gong Ping'an and Da Jun, Qian Youyou naturally knew Xiao Jiu and was very familiar with him.

She had a very good impression of this young man who was not talkative, was efficient, and was extremely loyal to Lu Yang.

Hearing that Lu Yang was only scolding her for this, Qian Youyou breathed a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders relaxing. She gave Lu Yang a reproachful look, picked up a slice of toast, and handed it to him, saying:

"You shouldn't be too harsh on your own brothers!"

Especially a bodyguard like Xiao Jiu.

They've entrusted their lives to you, how can you constantly scold them over every little thing?

She leaned against the edge of the bed beside Lu Yang, speaking earnestly with the gentleness and foresight of a mistress of the house.

“My father always taught me that when dealing with people like this, you should treat them with sincerity. A combination of kindness and strictness is secondary. The most important thing is to make them feel that following us is a lifelong support, a partnership that shares both honor and disgrace. As long as we are doing well, they will always have a reliable support and can enjoy the good life with us, instead of working for us in fear and trembling every day…”

When Qian Youyou mentioned "my dad before he passed away," her voice unconsciously lowered, and the relaxed smile on her face froze.

She thought of her father, Mr. Qian's, trusted bodyguard, whom he regarded as his confidant. It was that same person who, while her father's body was still warm, became a key link in the conspiracy of Qian Zhongwu and his son to seize power, forging a will and betraying his former master... The pain and revulsion of being betrayed by the person she trusted most instantly surged into her heart, making her words seem to be blocked in her throat, unable to be uttered.

She lowered her head, unconsciously touching the edge of the tray with her fingertips, her eyes somewhat dim.

Lu Yang keenly sensed her low spirits and the shadow behind her abruptly stopped words.

He put down the milk glass, and without the slightest hesitation, opened his strong arms and gently but firmly embraced the little woman in front of him who had just been relieved of the heavy burden of being the head of the family and was now showing a hint of vulnerability in her memories.

His embrace was broad and warm, carrying a reassuring strength.

He gently stroked her soft, long hair with one hand, and patted her back slowly and rhythmically with the other, as if comforting a wronged child.

"Silly girl, what are you thinking about?" His voice was deep and gentle, with a soothing magic. "Our father didn't do anything wrong, he just... entrusted himself to the wrong person."

You can't see into someone's heart until the very end; who can truly understand them?
Back in the day, Qin Shi Huang, who swept across the six kingdoms and unified the world, was quite formidable, wasn't he?
During his lifetime, seven kingdoms submitted to him, and the world was at peace. What a magnificent figure he was!

But in the end, wasn't he still tricked by his two most 'loyal' subordinates, Zhao Gao and Li Si, who conspired together?
They forcibly altered a perfectly good will of succession, plunging the world into chaos.

He paused, feeling the body in his arms relax slightly, before continuing to comfort her in that slightly roguish yet incredibly earnest tone: "So, once a person dies, even the greatest loyalty in life becomes meaningless."

So-called loyalty only applies to the living.

We who are alive should learn from these lessons and not let the shadows of the past overshadow the light of the present. Our father's lesson is that we need to be more discerning in judging people, more sincere in employing them, and, most importantly, strong enough ourselves.

"Now that I'm here, don't worry, no one can bully us anymore."

Lu Yang's seemingly absurd yet historically weighty and realistic "comforting" words were like a good medicine, precisely smoothing out the wrinkles in Qian Youyou's heart.

She leaned against his strong chest, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, and feeling the firmness and protectiveness in his words. Those dark and cold memories seemed to have been dispelled quite a bit.

She looked up, her eyes still slightly red, but a faint, relieved smile had returned to her lips, and she softly hummed in agreement.

Seeing that her mood had improved, Lu Yang immediately knew when to stop and began his specialty: changing the subject and being silly.

He loosened his grip and pointed exaggeratedly at the breakfast on the tray: "Tsk tsk, let me see the masterpiece personally cooked by President Qian! This fried egg... the heat is just right, the runny yolk is perfect! This toast is golden and crispy, it looks very appetizing! But, well..."

He deliberately dragged out his words, picked up a slice of toast, and looked at it seriously in the sunlight. "The plating needs improvement. Compared to a Michelin three-star chef, it's lacking a bit of artistry."

Qian Youyou was amused by his deliberately nitpicking manner and playfully slapped him: "You're lucky to have anything to eat, why are you being so picky! If you don't want to eat, then don't!" She then pretended to snatch the toast back.

"Hey, hey, no! I was wrong! Chef Youyou's skills are so good, even Michelin couldn't afford her!" Lu Yang quickly protected the food, took a big bite with a grin, and exclaimed indistinctly, "Mmm! Delicious! So delicious! The food made by the beautiful CEO is the best in the world!"

Amidst their lighthearted banter, the two of them took turns eating, finishing off the heartwarming, home-cooked breakfast.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting warm dappled patterns on the floor. The air was filled with the aroma of food and soft laughter. The tenderness of last night and the warmth of this morning intertwined, temporarily isolating the solemnity of the ancestral hall, the gravity of the memorial service, and the lingering smell of gunpowder from the power struggles of this small, peaceful haven.

After breakfast, Lu Yang did not leave immediately.

He changed into comfortable pajamas, went to the nursery, and picked up Qian Xiaohao, who had just learned to say "Dad" a few days ago and was being amused by the nanny.

The little guy, wearing an adorable cartoon hoodie, grinned at Lu Yang with his toothless little mouth and called out indistinctly, "Dad... Dad... Hug me!"

Lu Yang's heart melted instantly. He picked up his son and lifted him high in the air, making the little guy squeal with excitement.

The father and son spent nearly two hours enjoying themselves in the meticulously maintained back garden of the Qian family manor.

Lu Yang held his son as they watched the koi swimming in the pond, pointed to the butterflies fluttering among the flowers, and taught him to identify flowers of different colors.

The little one was full of curiosity about everything, babbling and trying to speak. His chubby little hands would tug at Lu Yang's hair one moment and reach for the drooping flower branches the next. Qian Youyou leaned against a white rattan chair not far away, watching this scene with a smile. The last trace of gloom that had arisen from memories that morning was completely dispelled by this warm family joy.

The warm sunlight shone on them, as if gilding them with a golden edge called "home".

However, happy times are always short-lived.

As the sun rose higher and the temperature warmed, Lu Yang knew he had to leave.

He carried Qian Xiaohao, who was reluctant to part with him and whose little hands were tightly clutching his clothes, back to Qian Youyou's side.

The little one seemed to sense the impending separation; his little mouth twitched, and he looked like he was about to cry.

"Good boy, Xiao Hao, Daddy's going to work now. I'll come back to see you and Mommy in a couple of days and bring you a big toy car!" Lu Yang kissed his son's soft cheek and gently handed him to Qian Youyou's arms.

Qian Youyou took the child, her eyes filled with reluctance, and softly instructed, "Drive slowly, be careful, and don't overwork yourself with company matters."

"I know, don't worry." Lu Yang pinched her cheek, then leaned down to kiss her forehead. His gaze swept over the son in her arms, and finally he looked at her deeply, as if he wanted to etch the image of the mother and son into his heart.

As Qian Youyou and Qian Xiaohao watched him leave, nestled together and filled with deep affection, Lu Yang turned around, a complex emotion barely perceptible in his eyes, and strode toward the black sedan parked in front of the main building.

The driver was already waiting by his side and respectfully opened the car door for him.

The car smoothly drove out of the grand gate of the Qian Family Manor, slowly leaving that peaceful and serene scene behind.

Lu Yang leaned back in the comfortable back seat, looking at the increasingly smaller outline of the manor in the rearview mirror, and the two figures standing at the entrance that gradually blurred but remained in place, and let out a soft sigh.

He took out his phone, swiped his finger across the screen, quickly found a number, and dialed it.

The call connected, and a capable and composed female voice came through: "President Lu?"

“Sister Wei Shu.” Lu Yang’s voice carried a hint of fatigue after relaxation, but more so an unquestionable instruction, “There’s nothing particularly urgent lately, so I’m entrusting the company to you. I’m a bit tired and plan to rest for a few days.”

There seemed to be a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by an understanding laugh: "Okay, Mr. Lu, please go and rest. I'll handle things at the company. I'll report back to you if anything important comes up. Spend some time with your family."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work." Lu Yang thanked him and hung up the phone. He rubbed his temples and looked at the city street scenes rushing past the car window.

One should not be too much like Lu Yang.

He thought to himself with a self-deprecating smile.

It's not easy to enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives!

Being a time management master is even more difficult!

Lu Yang has been busy running around in southern Jiangxi and dealing with the Qian family's affairs lately, and has neglected his family. He has decided to take his wife and children on a trip for a few days since the May Day holiday is just around the corner. Although the May Day long holiday is not popular now, it doesn't matter, he can give himself a break.

Lu Yang closed his eyes, and began to picture his family of four going on a trip in his mind, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turning up slightly.

As for that small town in southwestern France… a sharp glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Ah Long's men should be arriving soon.

Sister Lingling, let me take care of things here first...

The wheels rolled forward, carrying a man with complex thoughts but a clear goal, heading towards his next destination. (End of Chapter)