By the time Chunhua reached the eight month of her pregnancy, Hai had established his foothold in the Liu Corps and also in the Underworld. A decision which his father resisted with all his might but could do nothing much about it.
Partly because Hai's stubbornness to rule the underworld was like a flame that only leapt taller and stronger, impossible to vanquish. And partly because Hai had already proved himself in the business world. The Liu Corps that grew under his leadership gave him the free reigns and right to do whatever he pleased.
But as opposed to Hai, Chunhua's journey was filled with hurdles. Going to college was a whole nother challenge, especially as the months went by. Society, as usual, judged her. Considering how the marriage of the Liu family's only male heir was kept under the wraps, suspicions naturally rose.
But with Guiren on her side, and the fear of Liu Hai's ire quietly simmering in the background, none dared to point fingers at her. But that didn't mean she didn't feel the heat of their accusations and conspiracy theories.
These eight months, though, weren't dramatic only for the newly wedded couple. Another couple stood at the altar, taking their vows before the priest. With Liling's zealousness of love, it didn't take much time for her to wrap Guiren into her flow, coupled with her brother and sister-in-law pushing them from the shadows. Guiren, who loved Liling back from the beginning but who always held back considering the circumstances, eventually caved in.
"Guiren, all we would see in your wedding photos would be a beet red tomato head~"
Guiren's brow twitched. With a groom's attire of a white shirt and suit, only his red face above his neck felt like the odd body part out.
"Don't tease my husband!" Liling glared. "Don't you see how handsome he looks?"
"Ouch, my sister has already become a stranger huh…" Hai sighed. "Only my Chunhua loves me!" He shamelessly jumped to kiss her, only to be met with a slap across his cheek.
"We're in the public, Hai!" Her face was now as red as Guiren's.
"Chunhua, we are a happily married couple! We shouldn't be shying away from public display of affection~"
"Tone down on that shamelessness, Bro or your son would turn out shameless just like you," Liling sneered.
He sneered back. "Considering how you seduced your husband, I would say shamelessness runs in the family."
"Sh-Shut up! Hmph, I won't click pictures with you. Sister-in-law, you come with me. Let's leave this dufus alone!"
"Hey! Don't forget that I was the cupid for you two, okay? So show some respect!"
Liling rolled her eyes and dragged Chunhua away with her. Guiren took a seat beside him.
"Soooooo, your heart must feel all giddy huh~" Hai winked.
"Liling has always made my heart giddy," his voice was soft, low but doting all the same.
"She would outright faint if she heard this," he chuckled. "Anyway, Professor Chen. I have a great business idea and I could use your help~!" His eyes sparkled.
"Business?" Guiren blinked. "I don't have much interest in business though."
"Don't worry, you keep teaching as you like. I just want you to have more options open~ Especially with me! Aren't we besties!"
"That's debatable."
"Heartless!"
"...Uncle and Aunt Liu aren't too happy with me, are they? Me being Liling's husband."
His brow arched. "Mom isn't happy with Chunhua either. Who cares? Just be neutral and everything will be fine."
"And uncle?"
Hai quietly sipped his juice. "I'm the face of the Liu family now. It'll be quite pleasant if the older generation is forgotten."
Guiren stared at his side profile, peering into his bright, black eyes. "You look really happy."
"Of course~ My best friend and sister got married, I am married to a super beautiful Goddess, and our child will be born in a month. Am I walking in heaven, I wonder?"
"I see."
Hai glanced at him once. "Hmmm, sometimes, just sometimes..."
He blinked.
"I don't like you. Chunhua too. You two are too smart."
"Is that a bad thing?"
Hai stared back at the empty void ahead. "It makes it difficult to hide from you two."
From a distance, Chunhua, who was now exhausted with the back-to-back camera poses, happened to gaze at Hai. And there it was yet again. A brooding look in his eyes as if he was contemplating something very deeply but couldn't come to any conclusion yet. As if he was battling something out with himself. It had become a regular occurrence now where she would find him lost in his trance at times, completely serious and no-nonsense. Cold and distant. Then he would switch back to his usual self, but Chunhua was yet to decode the question that was eating up his consciousness.
"Everything alright, sister-in-law?" Liling gently held her shoulder.
"Ah? No, it's fine," she smiled. "Did Hai…talk to you about something? Anything that is bothering him?"
She shook her head. "No. Bro…you know how he is. He is an idiot who likes to leave the important parts out," her expression fell. "I wish…he would share his feelings with me too, but…it's a place he doesn't let anyone in. The only one who has managed to go even a little farther is Guiren. Sometimes I feel jealous of how close they are," she smiled helplessly.
She grinned. "But don't worry! As long as you will be by his side, he will be all fine!"
—
But everything was not fine. Not one night when Chunhua didn't find Hai in bed. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the time. It was past two in the morning. She paused.
Is he hungry?
Chunhua's shoulders drooped with fatigue. Pregnancy had sapped all the strength from her arms and legs. Nevertheless, she stood up and stepped out to find Hai.
"Maybe he is in the kitchen..."
But a soft yellow light from a different room diverted her attention. She blinked twice.
"That's Dad's study. Is he still awake too?"
Approaching the door that was slightly ajar, whispers of voices chimed out where she stopped. She heard Hai's father's voice speaking.
"You…hate me that much, huh…"
Inside, Hai seated on a chair opposite him, stared at him, with cold, soulless eyes. His chin lazily rested upon his palm, with an expression so empty and impassive that it brought a shiver in his father's heart.
"The wrong person is asking this question. But it doesn't matter anymore. It's too late for questions and answers."
He held a black file in his hands and smiled. "Who would have ever thought that you would appoint your useless, rebellious second son as your power of attorney? Oops, I forgot. You didn't have an option when you only have one son left~"
He didn't respond.
"Aaahhhh, it was such a long ass journey, especially getting the shareholder oldies from your side to mine. But now…I finally have the power. So how about we celebrate?" He chirped, sliding a cup of glass of wine across the desk towards him.
Hai's father looked at the glass. Then he looked back at Hai.
"You…wanted this from long ago, didn't you? First, your brother and…now me."
Hai's dark eyes glinted coldly. "Hm? It's obvious. He outlived his usefulness and so have you now, Liu Jingcheng."
