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Wang Zimo stopped in front of the greenhouse door, his eyes reflecting a mix of nervousness and excitement.
Yang Zed had already gone inside, while Zhou Chun waited for Wang Zimo to enter. Despite her efforts, she couldn't keep up with their pace due to her shorter legs.
"Are you going in or not?" An irritated voice came from behind Wang Zimo as he mulled over how Liu Leah might react upon seeing him.
Without waiting for a response, Zhou Chun walked past Wang Zimo. She turned around and looked up at him. "If you don't want to enter, I can escort you back to your car."
Hearing Zhou Chun's words, Wang Zimo felt compelled to move forward toward the center, where Yang Zed was heading. "Tsk," Zhou Chun muttered as she closed the door behind her and followed.
Her annoyance turned into anxiety. She would instead prefer the Young Miss choose the head of security, Yang Zed, than Wang Zimo. At least Yang Zed had worked for the country and had a clean background, according to his record, which the government backs.
…
Zed reached the pavilion, and the person who meant the world to him stood beside the ingredients he had prepared earlier. The person turned to face him and smiled warmly, prompting him to smile back automatically.
His heart compelled him to get closer, so his feet moved toward Leah. As he approached, he held both of Leah's hands to see if she had touched the ingredients. His callused hands massaged Leah's, which seemed small in comparison. "Hungry?" he asked, looking into her eyes with indulgence.
"Hmm," Leah replied with a nod.
"Let me do everything. Just sit and relax. I'll start cooking now." Zed encouraged Leah, pulling out a chair for her. Leah followed and sat down while Zed started folding his sleeves. Then, he went back to the kitchen area to begin cooking.
"Where is the guest and Zhou Chun?" Leah asked while watching the man busily cooking. Her eyes showed doubt in Zed's cooking skills, as he wasn't receiving instructions from the cook tonight.
Hearing Leah inquire about Wang Zimo, Zed's smile flattened. "They're on their way here," he answered calmly.
After a few minutes, Zed and Leah heard two pairs of footsteps approaching the pavilion. The first set hurried, while the second seemed almost like running.
Unknown to Leah and Zed, the warm atmosphere between them was observed by Wang Zimo as he approached the pavilion. He couldn't hear their conversation but certainly noticed their interaction.
To an outsider, Zed and Leah appeared like an old married couple in how they looked at and acted around each other.
Jealousy took over Wang Zimo, and he rushed closer, followed by Zhou Chun, who was sweating from trying to keep up with him.
Like a drunk person with no care in the world besides the person in his sight, Wang Zimo walked until he stood in front of Leah's chair, looking her in the eyes. He seemed to be waiting and expecting something from her.
In the past, Liu Leah used to smile at him as if looking at a younger brother and give him a bear hug as a greeting. He was like family to her, so her interactions and conversations with Wang Zimo were always based on that.
Leah silently observed Wang Defu's second son as he rushed towards her. He resembled Wang Haoran but had Zed's aura and build. "Are you telling me that this fine specimen was defeated by the likes of Wang Haoran?" Leah asked Zero, puzzled.
While waiting for Zed and Zhou Chun to catch up with Wang Zimo, Leah used the time to check the written future about Wang Zimo, released by the God System and currently stored in Friday.
"That's right, host," confirmed Zero.
"According to the God System, Liu Leah used a lot of her family's resources to gather evidence against Wang Zimo just to get an ounce of Wang Haoran's attention and affection," Zero added.
"She gathered all that evidence, huh? Evidence that Wang Zimo ordered the disappearance of many people and his connections to the largest underworld network in the country. I bet she sacrificed a lot to do all that," Leah commented.
"She did. Liu Leah used all her inheritance and some favors from her parents without knowing that Wang Zimo did all those things to be on equal footing with her status."
"Wang Zimo could have achieved all that without the Wang Family, but it would have been harder to transition to legitimate money."
"Host, Wang Zimo was then convicted to life in prison but got out after a few years and was never seen again."
"He probably gave up on Liu Leah and accepted his fate. Therefore, he had no reason to stay with the Wang Family or in the legitimate business world."
Zero and Leah's conversation lasted only a few seconds before she focused her attention on the man in front of her.
Wang Zimo noticed Leah's gaze following him until he reached her. Her gaze shifted from focused to unfocused as if she were thinking deeply about something else.
After a few moments, her focus returned as she saw him still silently waiting in front of her. Leah then gestured for him to sit down on the other side of the table.
"Leave what you're carrying on the kitchen counter and have a seat," Leah said with a welcoming smile.
Wang Zimo showed the food he had brought. "I brought some snacks that are popular right now. Would you like one while you wait for dinner?" he asked.
"Thank you, but I'll have some after dinner," Leah replied, then stood up and walked toward Zed. Wang Zimo followed her instructions, placing the food on the counter before sitting in the chair Leah had indicated. His eyes followed Leah as he waited.
Leah stood next to Zed and asked, "How long until dinner is ready?"
"It will be ready in forty-five minutes," Zed answered softly.
"Can I borrow your laptop while I wait?"
"Hmm, the password is your birthday."
Upon hearing the password, Leah smiled from ear to ear. Meanwhile, Zed maintained his usual blush and stoic expression.
Leah thanked him and stopped bothering Zed. She grabbed the laptop next to him and returned to her original seat.
Without opening the laptop, she looked at Wang Zimo. "It's been a while. So what business do you have with me?" she asked in a serious tone.
Watching the woman he had dreamed of for so long gaze at him with a distant expression hurt Wang Zimo. Despite this, he smiled and replied, "It has been a while. Is there a reason not to visit an old friend?"
"Are we still friends? If I remember correctly, you wanted us to be more than friends and nothing less," Leah interjected, raising an eyebrow.
Wang Zimo stood up and walked to Leah's side. He bent down and whispered, "My feelings for you have never changed. I love you and always will. Will you accept me as your boyfriend, with marriage in mind?"
He then sat down, facing Leah, his eyes not leaving her as he awaited her reply. He decided to speak his mind without delay, fearing that another Wang or Zhang might propose.
Leah was shocked, her eyes wide and mouth slightly open.
Before Leah could respond, Zed attempted to say something, but Zhou Chun, who had just reached the pavilion, interrupted him. "Young Miss!"
Zed returned to cooking, knowing that Zhou Chun would not let this other Wang bastard say anything inappropriate.
Zhou Chun approached and sat down in the empty seat next to Leah. Leah was waiting for an explanation for why she was interrupted by Zhou Chun, who opened and closed her mouth several times before speaking.
With a guilty expression, Zhou Chun looked down. "At my age, I cannot believe I'm still making mistakes," she thought and immediately apologized.
"I am so sorry, Young Miss, for interrupting your conversation with your guest. After what happened a few days ago with Wang Haoran and your injury, I couldn't stop thinking about what worse things could have happened. Because of that, any man approaching you, whether with a clean background or seeming like a good person, seems suspicious to me." Zhou Chun and Liu Leah's relationship was built on trust by the two, so Zhou Chun always shared her thoughts with Leah.
"I will do my utmost not to let this happen again," she added.
"Whether I remember this, I cannot promise," she addedly thought. An angry Leah was better than an injured Leah, after all.
"Hmm," Leah nodded, accepting the apology unceremoniously. She understood how Zhou Chun felt.
Upon hearing Leah, Zhou Chun raised her head and saw Leah, who turned her attention back to Wang Zimo. Zhou Chun had no choice but to keep quiet and watch what was about to unfold.
Wang Zimo held his breath when Leah focused on him.
"I am still your brother's fiancée, you know," Leah said. Wang Zimo smiled when he heard her words.
"But you won't be after tomorrow, with or without Wang Haoran or Wang Defu's approval," Wang Zimo said matter-of-factly.
"You are well informed." The man's proud expression amused Leah.
"Of course. Especially when it's about you, Leah." Wang Zimo grinned, his eyes filled with greed as he gazed at Leah's charming eyes.
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