96 SOMETHING ELSE IN MIND

Zhong Feng glanced at Hu Lei as he drove out of Area 99. He had realised that she was tense as soon as he had come back to the villa, and it had nothing to do with the unreliable and highly suspicious assistant. In addition, it did not seem like it was only about her dislike for hospitals.

But it did not seem like a good idea to dissect her fears at the moment.

"I will find you a new assistant." He spoke, breaking her from the reverie.

Hu Lei blinked towards him in confusion. Her mind was far away. After a short moment, she comprehended his words and laughed lightly.

"There's no need. I find Ting Wan interesting." She responded with a twinkle in her eyes.

"You should not keep people that you do not trust around." He spoke sternly.

Though there was no way Ting Wan would take action against Hu Lei, he did not like the fact that there was someone who held malice towards her. Regrettably, for some reason, she had refused to have Ting Wan sent away. It would not be difficult to find out her purposes without keeping her on. But Hu Lei had insisted on doing things her way.

Hu Lei looked outside through the window at the passing scenery in wonder. She had been hesitant about going outside since she had come back because she felt that somehow the whole was too big and overwhelming, giving her a sense of vulnerability. There was also the fact that she did not trust Ting Wan.

"Mmmh… Keeping untrustworthy people around can keep the mind sharp." She smiled a little.

She felt that if she did not have this little challenge, she might not be able to keep her mind from sinking when Zhong Feng was not around. And she did not want Zhong Feng to become a mental crutch. He deserved a whole and strong Hu Lei.

Right now, she needed to use everything she could, including Ting Wan, to keep herself from drowning and falling into the clutches of her failing mind.

"Still, you need someone you can trust." Zhong Feng countered.

"I have you." She said flirtatiously. "It is not a big deal. And anyway, once I find an apartment, I will need to find someone else to help me out."

Zhong Feng's hands tightened a little around the steering wheel at the words. He felt that urge to hold her and lock her up, keeping her from the world. He wanted her to belong to him alone. He did not want to lose her once again. His mind had always drifted to that night when she had disappeared and wondered whether things would have been different if he had given in to his dark urges, to keep her only for himself.

However, when he looked at her smiling with twinkling yellow eyes, he understood that she had given him complete trust. She depended on him when she was lost and knew nothing. When the world was unfamiliar and her trust in people should have been completely broken, she had inexplicably chosen him.

How could he dare to betray that trust? Even if he wanted to protect her and fold her up in soft cotton, he understood what he needed to do. His eyes softened as she smiled wider at him. He could not disappoint her. He would deny her nothing.

"Your old new apartment is as you left it." He forced the words out.

Hu Lei felt like she had not heard his words.

"What did you say?" She leaned towards him energetically.

"You heard me." He relaxed a little.

"What do you mean as I left it?" She asked.

She held her breath in anticipation. She hoped he meant what he had said. Hu Lei's fate had not been kind. Every time she was close to achieving her small dreams, time would be stolen. She had been excited about decorating her own apartment, learning the basics of daily living and being a normal person. And then, everything had fallen apart.

Now that she had another chance, she intended to fulfil her aspirations through hook or crook.

"Nothing has been changed. It is empty, except for the few things that were delivered some years ago." Zhong Feng said in forced lightness.

"How is it possible?"

"Mmmh… Perhaps the owner wants to sue you for breaking the contract." He responded.

Hu Lei understood the entire matter with those simple words.

"But I hear that the owner is the richest man in the country. What possibly could he want from poor little me?" She asked, fluttering her eyebrows at him.

"Perhaps he has something else in mind." His voice became deeper.

"I could perhaps sing a song to escape this cruel fate." She spoke mournfully.

"He might be interested. But you would have to sing a song every day for the rest of your life. And he intends to live a very long life." The beautiful man turned his gorgeous orbs to her,

Hu Lei laughed and continued flirting shamelessly with Zhong Feng, completely putting the dreaded hospital visit from her thoughts. When he was close to him, it was almost as if the darkness plaguing her was afraid of him. Her mind became filled with light, like stars breaking through the deepest of nights.

Unfortunately, the fun ride came to an end too soon. Hu Lei felt apprehensive again.

After parking the vehicle, Zhong Feng took her hand in his large warm one.

"Do not worry. It is just a routine check-up."

"You are just saying that." She said in rebuke.

"I don't want you to run off." He said lightly.

Hu Lei smiled at the attempt to cheer her up.

"Is it really ok for you to bring me here?" She inquired, looking at the surroundings.

She could see that the hospital was a high-end private institution. It was not difficult to guess that this was probably a facility owned by the Zhong family, based on its great location, discrete appearance and high-level of security.

Zhong Feng flicked her forehead lightly before stepping out of the vehicle and opening the door for her. Without giving her a chance to refuse, he took her hand in his and led her to the large building. This simple action caused Hu Lei to feel like everything would be alright.