Situ Lei’s desire to kill Su Chen burned far brighter than anyone else's. The man had not only forced him to crawl and bark like a dog but had also stolen the woman he coveted. After Shen Shao introduced him to the Dark World and the Black List, Situ Lei began gathering intelligence. As an heir to one of Yandu's Five Great Families, he naturally possessed far more information than most. He had never imagined such entities existed—independent of nations, a world unto themselves, yet viewed with considerable apprehension by all governments. The most powerful entities within the Dark World, in particular, were courted rather than confronted; their destructive power was too immense, their eradication impossible. While vulnerable to air strikes, they wouldn't passively await annihilation. Maintaining amicable relations, even cooperation, proved the wisest strategy.
Seeing her brother's confidence, Situ Jiao felt reassured. Situ Lei wasn't arrogant; he wouldn't speak so assuredly without a plan. Yet, the depth of his hatred for Su Chen surprised her, rivaling her own.
Su Chen remained oblivious to the events unfolding at the Situ family compound that night. Even if he knew, he wouldn't have cared. His focus remained on his cultivation. After a night of practice, he was close to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement but hadn't yet broken through. He considered using elixirs obtained from Zhuge, but decided against it; there was no rush.
After his cultivation, Su Chen showered, changed, and jogged back to the Imperial Garden. He prepared a lavish breakfast in their villa. Lin Ruoxue descended the stairs in a silk nightgown as breakfast neared completion.
"Wife, good morning!" Su Chen greeted her casually.
"Morning," she replied, her sleepiness evident from her late night.
After breakfast, Lin Ruoxue left for work. Su Chen hailed a cab to Rainbow Mansion. He arrived at his office, brewed tea, and leisurely perused a "Men's Fashion" magazine. His workload was minimal, delegated effectively to his capable PR team. After twice reading the magazine, boredom set in. He tried playing "Fight the Landlord," but soon lost interest.
"Forget it, I'll see Qiuru. It's been a while," he muttered, heading to Xia Qiuru's office. Since all offices were now on the same floor, and since Lin Ruoxue's arrival, he'd avoided visiting Xia Qiuru uninvited. He crept in furtively, feeling like a thief.
Xia Qiuru looked up, surprised. "Why are you here?"
"Just to see you!" Su Chen settled onto the sofa, casually taking a bite of an apple.
"Aren't you afraid Lin Ruoxue will find out and make you kneel on durians?" Xia Qiuru asked, a hint of melancholy in her voice. Su Chen's absence had troubled her. She knew his avoidance stemmed from fear of Lin Ruoxue's discovery, adding to her melancholy. Though sensible and considerate, she was still a woman, subject to desires, anger, and folly. She knew her feelings were inappropriate, yet couldn't control them. Hope yielded disappointment, and repeated disappointments fostered melancholy, a burden she carried silently.
Su Chen, however, remained unaware of her feelings. He believed their open communication eliminated any issues, though he harbored a special affection for Xia Qiuru. Maintaining their friendship seemed the best path, for now.
He smiled at her comment. "You make Ruoxue sound like a shrew. Besides, we're both department heads; it's normal to meet and improve our rapport."
"Is it normal to not visit for so long?" Xia Qiuru countered, her face flushing. "Su Chen, there's something I wanted to discuss."
"What is it?"
"Never mind, it's nothing."
"Qiuru, we're friends. Tell me." Su Chen knew she was hesitant.
Xia Qiuru looked up. "The New Year is approaching, and my mother wants us to visit home." A blush deepened her already rosy cheeks. This was sensitive, even excessive, given Su Chen's marriage. Yet, she couldn't resist her mother's persistent calls. It all stemmed from the charade of her previous request for Su Chen to pretend to be her boyfriend, a charade she was now forced to continue. She couldn't tell her mother the truth; it would be too much for her to bear.