85 ARE YOU SCARED?

The mansion in Azure Woods was not that far from the edges of Supreme City, only about thirty kilometres. However, the drive was quite long because their destination was across the city. Still, Hu Lei did not feel tired or distressed. In fact, she felt quite excited about seeing what had changed.

Unfortunately, this girl had not been to most parts of the city, so she could not really tell how much had changed. That did not stop her from pressing her face against the glass like a country bumpkin. She felt elated seeing the bustle and hustle of the metropolis.

Zhong Feng smiled gently and drove a little slower, allowing her to indulge her eyes. He decided that he would bring her around town when they had a chance. Hu Lei was that person who liked the mundane excitements of normal life and seeing drama unravelling. He was clear on this fact.

Most people would kill to be adventurers like she had been in the past. But she who had seen the world only liked things that others might find annoying and even boring. Luckily, Supreme City was never lacking in this type of entertainment.

After a long drive, they finally entered into Area 99 villa district. This locale, in spite of its nonsensical nickname, was the home to numerous important persons of Supreme City. More accurately, the villas were primarily owned by the children of the local influential families.

The development was quite exclusive. It was difficult for people to purchase a home in this place even if anyone was willing to sell. Though the properties were not owned by a single person, there was a strange solidarity among the owners. New money families interested in owning a villa often found themselves turned away.

The limitation can perhaps be called the pride of the old families.

Or perhaps it was one of those things that rich and over-privileged people do.

When the original development had been proposed by the Mo family, everyone in the upper circles had gone crazy over the prospect. The idea sold to the local tyrant families was providing their heirs with a respectable home to mature before taking over their family operations. These heirs could also get to know one another for business purposes. There might even be good news on a personal level.

In the past, the influential families would insist that their sons and daughters had to live in their paternal homes to prevent them from going astray. Now, everyone knew that their children had to leave the nest and gain a little experience.

Zhong Feng had not purchased the villas when the Area 99 fad was hot. In fact, he had not been interested in the obsession if he had even noticed it. He had been content to invest his money in high-end apartments in Westend and live in his penthouse.

But like other parents, Zhong Tian and Chu Ling did not want to be left out. Even though their family was the most influential, they felt that if their children did not own a villa in Area 99, they would lose a lot of face. The other families would probably think they were looking down on them.

So, Zhong Feng got a beautiful villa in Area 99 as a birthday present.

All in all, it was not a bad place. The environment was good, and it was not far from the city centre. Though it was not as convenient Westend, it had its benefits.

"Where are we?" Hu Lei asked with interest.

Zhong Feng smiled.

"This is Area 99." He replied.

Hu Lei pressed her lips together, but she busted out laughing immediately. What kind of idiot would name this type of high-end place such a stupid name? It had so much edge she could feel it cutting her vocal cords.

"Is this a base for aliens?" She paused in mock seriousness. "Have you seen a UFO around here?"

Zhong Feng did not say anything in defence of the inane name. No one knew the reason the district ended up being named Area 99. Hu Lei kept making a range of terrible alien and secret base jokes until they arrived at their destination villa.

Hu Lei felt tense about staying with Zhong Feng once she saw the two uniformed guards as the gates opened. This tension did not arise per se from guilt. Instead, it was the realisation that the two of them were really not alone in the world. Here, she would have to face other people.

"This was a bad idea." She spoke as Zhong Feng drove into a large garage.

When she had agreed to come to his villa, she had not thought about everything. At the time, she had only been thinking that she did not want to go to the Hu manor. The thought of returning to that place was too much for her. Not only would she be haunted by the few memories of her childhood, she would also have to live with the knowledge that her father was never coming back.

She had come with Zhong Feng because she knew that it would take time for her to sort through everything and find a home for herself. Moreover, it was embarrassing for her to admit that she was afraid of staying in a hotel.

In all her calculations, she had not thought about other people being in the villa. Her mind had pictured the same situation as the mansion in Azure Woods. After thinking about it, she realised that she had not used all her brain cells.

Zhong Feng was a powerful and busy man with countless responsibilities. If he did not have people to help him out, wouldn't he crash and burn under the weight of all his work?

"Are you scared?" Zhong Feng asked teasingly after turning off the engine. He had noticed her strange mood.

Hu Lei felt guiltier because she had indeed been a little afraid. Then, it had dawned on her just how much he must have overextended himself in order to accommodate her. Yet she had been afraid of staying in a huge comfortable house with other people.

She turned to him and looked at him, right into his eyes and clutched his arm.

"Ah Feng, I'm sorry for the trouble that I have caused you for these three years. I know that it can't have been easy to even find a clue about me. I never thought that anyone would care this much about me. This is grace that cannot be repaid." She said with glistening eyes.

"There is no debt, Xiao Lei." He responded with a small smile.

Hu Lei looked forward with unseeing eyes, reminiscing about the past.

"Do you remember what I said during our first meeting?" She turned back to him. "Working for you during that time was the good karma I accumulated for over eight lifetimes."

Zhong Feng wanted to speak, but she did not allow him.

"Ah Feng, I also do not want us to calculate debts. There is nothing I can do anyway to tip scales to my favour. Instead, I will ask you to give me the honour of accompanying you in this lifetime." Hu Lei spoke unwaveringly.