Inside the study, the continued their talk.
Liu Zijian normally wanted to let his wife rest but Han Meixiu followed him inside.
"You're worried about what your Mom will do to you? Or the people after you because of your Mom?"
"Uh-huh, Both. Do you think she will get offended when I said 'coward?'"
"I'm not your mom so I can't answer for sure. But, whatever she will do, don't worry. I'm here."
Liu Zijian said while he was hugging her gently as they both sat down.
"I know but, what if you'll get hurt. I would definitely blame myself because it was me who provoked her."
Han Meixiu continued to voice out the thoughts that have been bugging her the entire day.
Aside from the fact that she realized how her father tried to protect her life and extremely thankful about it, she was also worried about what Liu Zijian mentioned.
But hearing his words, she obviously calmed down but another worry came up. That's his safety.
Since they didn't know who would be the people targeting them and if they really didn't have her mother's record.
"Should I make sure you won't blame yourself?" Liu Zijian gleefully asked as her words sounded an incredibly sweet music to his ears. He wanted to gabble her up at the moment.
"You can?" Han Meixiu who was oblivious of the effect of her words, looked innocently at him.
"Of course." He simply said and started to shorten their distance when a phone call interrupted their time.
Liu Zijian stood up and answer the call.
While her husband was busy listening to what was being 'reported' Han Meixiu also stood up and went near his table. Feeling a little bored, she scanned his table.
She saw his desk calendar with some scribbles and few dates with circles.
'One week?'
Han Meixiu tried to recall if Liu Zijian said something about the dates circled on the calendar but she couldn't remember anything about those dates.
Aside from her schedule to join as 'trainee on the job' next week, there was nothing else.
'Maybe it his meetings.' She concluded and placed the thought back on her mind.
Seeing he was still on the phone and seemingly listening intently, she tried to give him a signal that she'll go first.
After seeing his simple nod she went out.
The information Han Meixiu provided was something LCG couldn't have as it's considered highly confidential that even high ranking people inside the organization were not even aware.
When the people they assigned to infiltrate black.com were killed, LCG stepped back for a while. It's simply too wasteful to send people again to search for its secrets.
Now that those information were already on his hands, he's hesitating to use it.
Yes, there were requests about those but he knew his priorities.
Liu Zijian knew the distinction between personal life and work and the taboo of not mixing them together.
But in this case, he's firm to protect the information rather than let it out in the open or sent it to those people who requested it.
He asked his father about it but Mr. Liu only answered him that it's his call. Whatever his decision, he would support it.
Since it was that way, he intended to keep it.
His little wife is really a handful. He now understood her restlessness earlier.
'So, she was worried about me.' He murmured.
With a smile he picked up the desk calendar his wife saw earlier and smiled.
*
The next day, Han Meixiu visited her father again. Unlike yesterday, she was more comfortable talking.
She would ask randomly about his life before and after joining black.com.
Han Yun Xiang would always simplify his answers making his daughter sighed in frustration.
Clearly, Han Meixiu wanted a story with full of juicy details so she could imagine them. But maybe her father wasn't really a good story teller or he simply didn't want to scare her, his answers were simply boring.
"Meixiu,.." He called out softly when she finally gave up asking and stare outside the window instead.
"Hmm?"
"Father want to ask you a favor."
"What is it?"
"Can you ask your husband to let me out?" With his situation, it would be impossible to sneak out unless someone would help him.
But since he didn't want a misunderstanding to happen between the husband and wife if he would ask his daughter to help him sneak out, he could only ask her to help him talk to her husband.
"Why? You're under treatment..." Han Meixiu immediately answered with a tone of worry and objection.
"I have an important thing to do."
"How important is it?"
"It's important." Han Yun Xiang said. He didn't know that his own daughter could be like this. He didn't want to say any more but it seemed Han Meixiu wouldn't let it be.
"How important?" She asked again emphasizing each word.
Her expression was like saying, 'If you don't tell me, I won't help you.'
Han Yun Xiang sighed.
"I need to get something from Zhang Yu's residence."
"Cousin Yu? What is it? Why is it important?"
Han Yun Xiang wanted to cry inwardly. One answer could make Han Meixiu asked multiple questions afterwards.
He inhaled deeply before he opened his mouth again.
"Old things that your mother kept in a box."
Han Yun Xiang answered while melancholic air surround him.
He knew it would be impossible to make his Ling Ling go back to the way she was but he still wanted to remind her about her past self.
"You'll get it personally?"
"No. I asked for black.com's service. They probably waiting for a response now but since I'm still here, I can't answer."
"Then you need a laptop and an internet connection only, right? You don't need to go out."
"Yes, but I need it to be untraceable. This place isn't suited for that. It's too dangerous if they would know it's me."
Han Meixiu smiled. She's been wanting on how to place a request on black.com and this once in a lifetime chance was simply a blessing in disguise.
"How about this, father. I'll do it." She said as an excited smile appeared on her face.
"No." Han Yun Xiang straight forwardly answered ignoring her reaction.
"You don't believe I can do it?" She asked feeling disappointed.
"That's not it..."
"Then you believe I can do it!" She said again.
Han Yun Xiang sighed again. His daughter was playing with words.
"It's not easy." He said.
"Father, I already tried to access black.com but I couldn't stay longer as the information I used were just stolen from someone."
"What did you say?"
Han Yun Xiang was surprised. Just what was his daughter doing? And what did she mean that the information she used were stolen?
Han Meixiu told him what she did with the help of 'stolen' information given by Han Mingxia.
After hearing, Han Yun Xiang, massaged his temple for a while.
Since she wasn't caught when she tried, it meant she was good.
Thinking about this way, Han Yun Xiang wanted to give it a try.
"Okay. But you must be here so I can guide you while you're navigating the site."
It wasn't just to guide, but also to help her just in case something happened.
"Sure!" Han Meixiu exclaimed as her eyes twinkled with excitement.
She was like her mother during their first few years of marriage. Her emotions were easily reflected on her face.
Han Yun Xiang remembered that when Han Meixiu was still very young, she was really quiet. It's good to see her smiling freely.
To whom should he express his gratitude?
It seemed that his effort even though it almost end his life was worth it.
If he wasn't able to protect his wife's smile, then he would definitely protect his daughter's.
Han Meixiu left and quickly returned to the room holding her own laptop.
She swiftly sat on the couch comfortably and the sound of tapping the keys could be heard inside the room.
She was trying to set up her own 'defense' before starting.
Han Yun Xiang was carefully observing her as his eyes softened and he felt proud even though he wasn't by her side growing up.