Aoi Xiu glanced at her daughter who was sitting like a lifeless doll in the car . Her grandson had just caught sleep after crying for awhile, as if sensing the distress from his mother .

When they were back in the Xiu estate, Midori went straight into her room and shut the door behind her .

Takagi Ryuuji placed a hand on Aoi Xiu's shoulder and nodded meaningfully before he went after Midori upstairs .

He knocked . When no one answered, he slowly turned the k.n.o.b and pushed the door open .

He expected Midori to be back on the bed, expressionless, like a mannequin . However, he found the bed empty . The gush of cool breeze gave him the instinct to go out to the balcony as its curtains were swaying with the wind, inviting him .

True enough, he found her standing at the balcony, her arms leaning on the railing .

However, to his surprise, she had an expression .

The day he saw her looking lifeless, he promised himself that he would do anything just to bring back her old cheerful self . He had planned a lot of ways to do so, but now, he thought that the effort might not be needed .

Midori Xiu was smiling at him when she sensed his presence .

______________

"Are you sure you can take him back? As much as I wanted to beat him up to his senses, I still want my brother to return in one piece . " Vanessa Zhou gave a stern look . "Getting him back to his old self will be another matter . "

"Of course . I had been directing plays since before I reached the legal age . Manipulating people is my specialty . " Lu Shaoting had a smug look of confidence .

"Yet you left your wife and child alone . " She gave him a suspiscious look .

"As much as I love my craft is how much I hate people trying to manipulate me . There is a limit to everything, so as your concern on how I manage my affairs . " He had an expression that could warn anyone .

"Just make sure you retrieve my brother alive . I will take it from there . My husband has a members.h.i.+p card to the exclusive hospital of Dr . Long . "

_______________

"Linyu, you should really consider my offer . " The sinister smile on his face was showing .

That afternoon, Chairman Song paid a visit to the Chairman's office of ZFC .

"Chairman Song, my daughter is very capable . A merger is not necessary . "

"An acquisition is actually a better option . C'mon Linyu . . . your son already secretly married my daughter before he . . . "

"Can you stop this ridiculous claim?!"

"The marriage license is the proof . My daughter is also still recovering from the death of her husband . . . but she'll get over it . "

"Stop saying that! Mr . Song, I will not agree to a merger, more so to an acquisition! Please show yourself out if there is nothing else!" Su Linyu was livid as she pointed towards the door . She did not care how rude she had been . She just could not take hearing from the man that her son is dead .

Until now, Su Linyu still blames herself for the disappearance of her son . In truth, she suspects that Chairman Song had planned everything all along, and she realized that she had been dumb enough to put the heir of ZFC in danger .

Few minutes after the old man left, the secretary to the Chairman of ZFC was startled to see her boss leaving with her shoulder bag .

"Madam!"

"I'm taking the rest of the day off . Go home if you want . I don't care!" Su Linyu strode away and into the VIP elevator .

She went straight down the bas.e.m.e.nt and took her own white Porsche Panamera and drove away .

She drove for a dozen of kilometers before reaching a quiet villa situated on top of a hill .

Though no one had gone to this villa, it was well maintained by their people, so that the gra.s.s on the lawn was trimmed, and the bushes were kept neat, with some roses blooming .

She parked just outside the front door .

After rummaging through her bag, she found the key to the house .

Her heels clicked along the paved walkway . She keyed in and turned the k.n.o.b, then the heavy wooden door opened with a loud creak .

As she walked into the living room, Su Linyu could remember how her children played on the sofa when they were young .

She glanced at the french windows which let the dim light of the sunset . Her husband used to stand there, admiring the garden outside, as he sipped his coffee .

She was woken up from her reverie as she heard soome movements .

Her neck swiftly followed the sound from behind her, her body pivoting with it .

"Linyu?" A familiar voice resounded in her ears .

Her eyes widened as she recognized the person who called out to her .