This time, the "overtime" lasted until late into the night.Lina struggled to get up from the couch, picked up her scattered clothes from the floor, and felt sore all over her body."Let me help you."Zuko wrapped his arms around her from behind with a satisfied smile. Lina felt his warm chest and his heart beating right along hers against her bare back.She did not dare to let him help her. She quickly broke free and put on her clothes.Zuko smiled and got dressed as well. His hand instinctively reached into his pocket, but... there were no more cigarettes.He finally understood now what his father meant by the "cigarette money" he used to earn.Lina forced herself to finish reviewing the last bit of information, and then Zuko took her home.-The next day. They slept until almost 8:00 a.m., only to be awakened by their phones."Is it your phone?""It's yours...""Hmm?"They woke up, realizing that their phones were vibrating simultaneously.One was from Lina's secreta
Lina giggled and playfully tugged at his ear. "Doraemon doesn't seem to have ears, though?""I'm different." Zuko's eyes were smiling. "I'm Lina's exclusive Doraemon, the only one in the world! That's why I have ears.""What do you need ears for?"Zuko leaned closer, his nose nuzzling her small face, his voice husky. "To... obey your every command!"Lina's heart warmed, and she hugged him. With him by her side, she would no longer be afraid of anything.They entered the Thompson residence hand in hand. There seemed to be quite a few people in the living room.Before Zuko could even see who was there, he heard Toph's enthusiastic voice booming. "Hey, bro!"Zuko paused. "You're here as well?""Of course. Since you're accompanying your wife back to her family, can't I come to see my dearest Uncle Nicholas and Aunt Linda?"Toph was still the carefree young man he used to be. Their argument at the horse ranch seemed to have been quickly forgotten.Zuko felt relief and concern for
Zuko looked at Nicholas again. "By the way, Dad, my parents have a gift for you. It's a bottle of fine wine. It's in my car, and they nagged me to hand it to you. How about you come with us to my car?"Nicholas and Linda agreed with enthusiasm.As Zuko led them out of the living room, he exchanged a glance with Lina.She understood and continued chatting with Kaitlyn."Regarding what we were talking about earlier..." Kaitlyn stopped briefly, speaking in a hushed tone. "Lina, that girl Lena who lives in your house... she's frequently near the study area. She even had a disagreement with me about it recently. Does that not strike you as odd?""Lenny?""Mom!" Renee sounded a bit anxious. "What are you saying?""It's just a casual chat!" Kaitlyn chuckled. "I always think these things get out because of someone from within. Our own family wouldn't betray us, but you can't be sure about outsiders!""Mom!" Renee looked at her mom, then apologized to Lina. "Lina, my mom didn't mean it
A few days later, Lina presented a perfect Plan B. After the project and engineering departments' evaluation, they all praised it and wondered why she had not introduced that design earlier.Lina then took the design and a detailed proposal to the board of directors, effectively silencing any doubts.The board was quite favorable toward this new plan."Exactly, this is Ms. Thompson! She must have the ability to handle it!""Yes, this design aligns better with the standards of high-end residences, and we can even raise the price.""In terms of calculations, the profit margin is twice as much as the previous plan!"Lina's smile seemed a bit weary. She waved her hand to instruct the secretary to prepare for a press conference. This time, she intended to unveil this new plan first to prevent any potential plagiarism.Yet, when she got home and saw Zuko, guilt filled her heart. She hugged Zuko, hiding her face in his chest, and softly said, "I'm sorry, honey..."Zuko patted her head
Lina's eyes were downcast, and she did not respond.Zuko remained silent as well, sitting quietly on the side."Bro, Pammy!" Toph appeared quite aggrieved. "Do you really have to be this unforgiving? I genuinely came here today to apologize."Chris pinched Toph from behind, prompting him to quickly blurt out, "I shouldn't have acted so thoughtlessly. I shouldn't have repeatedly caused trouble for Lena, and I definitely shouldn't have... Shouldn't have caused such a scene at Uncle Nicholas' place!"I'm sorry!"With that, Toph slapped his legs together, stood at attention, and performed a formal 90-degree bow!Zuko looked at him and smiled faintly."If it weren't for Chris dragging you here, would you have even come?"Toph scratched his head bashfully.Chris was not just anyone. Only under his militarized pressure did Toph obediently come to apologize."Even though Chris gave me a bit of a lesson..." Toph began to explain, "I genuinely came here to apologize! Actually, I do reg
Renee sorted Kaitlyn's pills, then neatly placed them into a small pillbox for each day of the week. She poured warm water and prepared to remind her mother to take her medicine.Balancing the cup and medicine, Renee approached the room's doorway. She suddenly heard her mother's hushed voice on the phone.Kaitlyn spoke softly, her tone urgent and low as if she meant it that way."Is everything taken care of?"What? She... hasn't died?"You all are a bunch of useless people!"...I don't care about that. Just make sure she doesn't return to Centrolis!"Renee's heart skipped a beat. She struggled to catch the words beyond the door. She wasn't sure who her mother conversed with on the phone, and the thought that her mother could utter such things was hard to accept.Could it be a misunderstanding? It had to be!She furrowed her brow as doubts gnawed at her. Her mother had been unwell and withdrawn for so long. How could she now command others to do such things?The voice from wit
Renee dialed the number, and a hoarse male voice came from the other end. "Kaitlyn, we didn't mean it. That stubborn girl is just too hard to handle! She's really tough!"But no worries. Despite Lena's capabilities, she's trapped right now... There are dangerous snakes and fierce beasts in that forest. She won't make it!"Renee held her hand over her mouth, almost stopping herself from screaming.At that moment, Kaitlyn's voice called from the living room. "Renee! Renee? What are you doing?"Renee almost fell off her chair but managed to note down the number. Sneaking into Kaitlyn's room as she passed, she placed the phone back, then casually went downstairs to the living room.Her heart raced well into the night.Kaitlyn had forbidden her from leaving the house or using her phone, except for Toph's calls. No one else was permitted to get in touch.Renee had grown to dislike this stifling life.After confirming Kaitlyn was asleep that night, she turned on her computer to trace t
Lena felt like her body was being torn apart, the pain similar to roasting over a fire. Maybe this was how hell felt...A bit of consciousness remained. She knew she leaned on a strong chest, feeling safe. A steady heartbeat echoed, too.In her daze, she smiled faintly. She wanted to rest, yet a voice kept echoing."Lena, don't sleep! Don't you dare sleep!""Mom..." she mumbled."Lena!"Suddenly, a sense of warmth spread through her heart.She had not experienced much warmth throughout her life, let alone someone being so concerned about her.When Lina argued with the shop owner and forced him to give her money, she had felt contented.Now... where was this voice coming from?"Lena, we're almost there!" Chris placed her in the car's back seat, speeding all the way. "We're almost at the hospital. Hold on!""I don't want to hold on anymore..." Lena weakly managed to say.Lena was utterly exhausted. All she yearned for was a serene slumber.In her dreams, her mother wouldn't