If she was going to take down Icy Co and its evil leaders, she needed insider information, and Su Mei was the best option. She was very loyal and showed no reluctance in dispensing justice when the moment came.
"Mengyao changed your office and redesigned it into a new one. It stinks, by the way." Su Mei angrily spat out
"Apart from her, I need to know what those two have been up to."
"Oh! Some days ago, I heard that a very rich elite came to buy the firm. He is about 1.75 meters tall and has dark hair; I could not get the full appearance of the man. But I overheard Mr. Luo addressing him with respect; he called him Mr. Zhou. That reminds me, why does he have the same surname as you?" Su Mei spoke so lightly, while Mingxia fell into deep thought. So he hired Luo Yuxuan as his lawyer? She sarcastically laughed. Did Luo Yuxuan not say her father treated him like a piece of sh*t? Why would he need a piece of sh*t to be his attorney? Or could it be another scheme? Mingxia tied her finger around the coffee mug, thinking deeply about what Su Mei said.
"I might have to trouble you, Xiao Mei, for one more thing. Can you snoop into his office and snap some of his credential files?" Mingxia saw the unease written on Su Mei's face and became unsure of putting Mei into trouble. She did not want Mei fired from her only source of earnings because of issues that arose with her. She sadly swirled her coffee, gulped it in, and wiped her lips.
"I can help you, on one condition..."
..........
Yuming worriedly stood outside the door, continually calling Mingxia's number; nevertheless, there was no response from her. Yuming became distressed as she had asked around, yet no medical practitioner had seen her. Yichen and Yuming headed to the CCTV room to check the cameras, but nothing! The first person they called next was Mu Lixin. He did not hesitate to cancel his meeting and search for her. What if something bad had happened to her? They knew Mingxia and her father Muchen were not on good terms, and seeing her would only put her life at risk. She had no mask or cover on her face! It was very risky.
A phone call came through that Mingxia had been found, and Yuming could only sigh in relief while calming her panicked heart. Yichen drove her to the apartment she handed it its address and watched her as she went inside and shut the door. He drove off to his apartment, a few miles away from Bai Yuming's.
"Did you think running off would stop me from booking a therapy session for you?" Lixin furiously tossed Mingxia onto the bed. Overwhelmed by his short-temperedness, she dared not explain herself to him. Yes, she was at fault for putting the others in panic, and he was too. Once he found her, the first thing he did was scold her, pull his baggy sweater over her head, and drag her into the car by her ponytail. She knew she was wrong. Mingxia had apologized several times to him, but it was futile. Everything was futile! He only fumed all over again. Mingxia touched her buttocks and gave them a light massage. His throw was painful.
"It is not like that."
"How is it like? You ran off like a little child. Do you know how many meetings I had to cancel just to search for you? Should I remind you that your father is still out there and that any moment might have you killed? Zhou Mingxia, you upset me. I assumed you were smart, but now I take back my compliment. Shower first; we will talk about it later." Lixin headed off to the living room, leaving Mingxia in total sadness.
He had not listened to her explanation and only lashed out at her. He was truly showing his real colors, as Yichen said. It was too bad that it was exactly what Yichen said. Mingxia said no more and obediently went to the shower. Once done, she dressed in a pair of poker-dot shirts and trousers and headed downstairs. Lixin relaxed on the chair, sipping water from the glass cup.
She sat opposite him and allowed him to lecture her.
"Now tell me, why did you run off?" Lixin's temper had subsided and was replaced by a calmer voice. Though he tried not to flare up at her when she did not answer him right away and only stared, he brushed it off and sighed. Mingxia was being difficult presently! "I would not hit you. I only said that out of rage. I thought you were missing." He came straight to her.
Lixin was new to babysitting a grown woman; hence, he lost it hearing that Mingxia took off despite her condition and her safety. Of course, he lambasted her when she got into the car and gave her the silent treatment throughout the ride home. His attitude was rude, but he was not too blameless. Lixin was only worried.
"I am sorry. There would not be a next time." Mingxia sadly uttered this, mentally encouraging herself to stand back on her feet. Any moment from now, Lixin would dispose of her since she was almost healed. She needed to brace herself for the worst and stop relying on him. Su Mei agreed to her terms, which meant that she was not that far from victory; Mingxia only had to hang on in the meantime. She peeked at him and lowered her head. "I went to find Luo Yuxuan." Lixin shifted his serious gaze to Mingxia, which was mixed with slight confusion.
Was Luo Yuxuan her ex? Why would she meet him? Jealousy sprung up from beneath his heart. He refrained from taking it out on her. Mu Lixin recalled how long it took to find her and balled his fist, only to hear she went to see Luo Yuxuan.
"I did not see him either. Everything changed within the last two years. I lost my company to those scumbags. They took my glory and destroyed it. I am a true failure." Somehow, these words kept flying out of Mingxia's lips nonstop. However, there were no tears, only a croaked voice. She assured herself that there was no time to waste tears on such worthless people. It might be difficult, but she was eager to give it her all. Lixin gulped in and stared at her unbelievably. Who has she encountered lately? Why was she low-spirited?
He could only watch as Mingxia reprimanded herself and, in the end, apologized for troubling him. Lixin on no occasion deemed Mingxia a troublemaker; therefore, how did she arrive at that conclusion? Did Yichen accidentally spill something on her? Lixin gritted his teeth, knowing it was only Yichen who had the guts to irritate him with words. That boy…
"You are not a failure. You are not trouble to me at all. I brought you to a therapy session because I wanted you to face your fears, accept the truth, and move on. Let go of your past. It haunts you, and you cannot recall anything again. Mingxia, I want you to heal. I need you to be strong for the battle we are going to fight. Is that clear?" Mingxia nodded and wiped off her tears with the back of her palms. Those were the sweetest and most caring statements anyone had ever made to her. Mu Lixin said it genuinely. She was taken aback by this.
"I will. I will for you." Mingxia muttered, bracing herself for the next therapy session. If there was one thing that she wanted to do, it was never disappoint Lixin. He was the best person that ever came into her life. Life brought disasters as they came; nonetheless, he was the most beautiful disaster life had ever thrown at her. "I saw you had a cold last night."
"I took some drugs. I am fine." Lixin allegedly replied, bringing out an invitation letter from his pocket. It was Lixin's cousin, Mu Luyang, the youngest heir to the Mu group. He was celebrating his fifth birthday, and as expected, Mu Lixin had an invitation card. A lot was on his mind, and attending a birthday party was not on his list. Still, he wanted to save some face for the Mu, especially when other rich elites were invited too. He would be a target of mockery if he did not make an appearance at his own cousin's birthday. "Would you like to go with me? To my cousin's birthday. I have no one to ask." Mingxia's eyes widened as she was touched by his offer. He was gradually letting her into his own life, and she was prepared to do the same, no matter how unpleasant her past was.
"Yes! I cannot remember the last time I attended a birthday party. What do you think he would like? We can get it for him before we arrive."
"Anything is good. Luyang is very picky." Lixin replied, wondering how nice Mingxia could be. Most people under no circumstances would care about Luyang; they only came to garner attention and also get a glimpse of the young business lord, Mu Lixin, which was why he stopped coming and secretly sent him gifts. "He is rude and disrespectful. The whole Mu family dotes on him, that is why."
"It is like having a younger sister. I cannot wait to see him. Can I call him Yang when we meet? I do not think it is inappropriate for me to do so." Mingxia's day brightened up despite her having her mood soured in the afternoon. Lixin was very good at helping her mood. "I will think of what to gift him. When do we leave? How should I address you when people ask?" She blurted out a crucial part. It would be awkward if she held onto him during the party with no identity.
People would assume she is a whore clutching onto the thighs of a rich elite. Lixin did not respond either, so she took her identity as a close friend in case anyone asked. In happiness, she went back to her room, choosing clothes from her closet. Thank goodness Lixin had asked Bai Yuming over to get some outfits for her, or she would be doomed.
"You look beautiful with whatever you pick. Luyang would love you, and so would Grandpa" Lixin whispered seductively into her ears.