This is not the end.
Lyca knew that the worse thing is still coming. Xu Ke was never the type of person that would directly confront her. He knew she was angry and using Tang Ruyi only made her more furious. Right now, Xu Ke would wait for her to approach him, maybe beg him to stop involving her family.
That's right, Xu Ke must be waiting for her to approach him first. Too bad for him… Lyca would never do that.
"I am not working with you," Lyca yawned. "We are trying to have a child. I can't stress myself."
Silence…
The silence that followed was deafening.
"You want to— "
"I am already twenty-four. If I give birth at twenty-six, then I will be forty-six when my child turns twenty. That would be enough time to bond. I don't want to come to my child's graduation with a cane or something. I already took everything into consideration and realized that this is what I wanted to happen." Lyca lied without batting an eyelid.
"…"
"…"
"I think my child would be very lucky to have me as the mother, right?" Lyca said. "I am beautiful and smart and— "
"You are trying to get pregnant?" Tang Ruyi interrupted her. "You— I am even older than you and I am still single! While you are already— "
"Ruyi, Lyca is actually right. Women are different from men. Sometimes, it is better to have a child earlier in the marriage than risk it. Lyca… I agree with this decision. Ruyi since you don't have any background in weapons and tech, I suggest you just ask Tang Er to assign you to a different field. After all, I don't want other people bullying my granddaughter."
Lyca sigh in relief when she heard her grandfather's words. However, his next words made her want to cry.
"Ah, since you are trying to have a child, I will send you some vitamins and tea to take care of your body. Giving birth is not a walk in the park. It is hard, painful, and dangerous. I remember when your grandmother…" Slowly, the topic changed as Old Man Tang started talking about the past.
After a few more minutes, the two decided to leave to give her time to rest. Of course, Lyca decided to go back to see Lai Su. Then the two of them visited the site for the final installations of the security gadgets.
"Alright… this camera is a very unique one. It is not susceptible to any jamming devices. Meaning this would be in demand once we show it to the public." Ronan said as Lyca's men installed all the cameras that they just made. "Hey… you listening to me?"
"Hm?" Lyca looked at Ronan. To be honest, she was feeling a little high. Probably it was because she hasn't had a good night's sleep for two days now. "Yes. I am listening." This camera also acts as a scanner that would scan the identity of the people attending the exhibit as well as the voice of the attendees. She knew that this was an extreme breach of privacy. However, she is doing this to have a record of everyone who is interested in her projects. This is an extra layer of security for the venue.
"Where's Shen Qui? I thought he was already here?" She roamed her eyes around the huge space with lots of pulpit-like structure that was where the armors and weapons were displayed. The armor and weapons looked like they were floating in the air inside the glass-like structure that is protecting them.
"He should be here somewhere. Probably the security room?"
Lyca nodded and left Ronan and Lai Su to finish the installation. Right now, she needed to talk to Shen Qui about Xu Ke's matter. When Lyca was about to open the door of the security room, a voice suddenly drifted towards her ears.
"Look… I always knew you look a little familiar. As a Shen, you have the responsibility to help your family out."
Lyca didn't have to see the woman who spoke to know that it was Shen Jiaojiao. Lyca squinted and didn't make her presence known. She stood by the door, eavesdropping.
"Miss Shen… I have no idea what you are talking about." Shen Qui's voice was freezing.
"Mr. Shen… I have evidence that we are related. I have your DNA. Don't you think it's time to drop the facade? I know you are that woman's son. What do you think would happen if the Xu Family would know that you exist? I heard the Xu Family is against giving their opponents a quick death."
Shen Qui snorted. "That sounds… scary." Shen Qui chuckled. "Did you expect me to say that? Miss Shen… did you expect me to beg you not to tell them the truth?"
Silence followed his questions. "Why don't you tell them about me? I'm sure your phone doesn't work here… so you can use mine. I have Xu Jihan's personal number. You can personally call him."
"You— "
"Yes. Miss Shen… you don't scare me. And the Shen Family just lost its only chance to work with my company. You know what? I really should talk to your grandfather about this. Maybe even introduce myself? Who knows… what he would do if he knew that you wanted to tell the Xu Family about my existence?" Shen Qui smirked when he saw Shen Jiaojiao paled at his words. "But that would be too troublesome… right?"
"You are threatening me? You think I would be scared of an illegitimate son like you?"
"No." Shen Qui answered. "But this illegitimate son's company is something that your family wanted. What do you think would happen if I tell all the companies that I am banning your family? Do you think they would do the same thing? After all… many of them wanted to impress me."
"You dare?"
"What makes you think that I wouldn't? The Shen Family are strangers to me."
"If you do that— The world would know that you are a mistake. Your mother left her family for your father who betrayed her! For the family that killed her! Are you really as dumb as that?"
"Miss Shen… you are misunderstanding something." Amusement laced Shen Qui's voice. "I don't care about the world's opinion about me." As long as Lyca's opinion towards him is good then, he is happy. Her opinion is the only thing that matters in this chaotic world. "So, you can bring your threats with you and shove it on your ass. Because the Shen Family… would never be able to work with my company. Ever."
Lyca hid the smile on her face as she listened. However, the footsteps behind her made her frown. She looked at the three people approaching her. One was an older man whom she instantly recognized at first glance. The other two were his bodyguards.
"Eavesdropping is… not a very commendable trait," the old man's voice was croaky, almost breathy. Hearing it reminded her of a frog's voice, and it made her irritated.
"Mr. Shen…"
"Please call me Director Shen." The old man didn't spare her a glance as he walked inside the room, surprising the two people inside.
"Grandfather!?" Why— Why are you here?"
"I knew you would screw this mission the moment you said you didn't like him." The old man said. He then looked at the two men behind him. "Get rid of that woman outside." However… the two men didn't move. They froze, eyes glued at him as if they didn't understand his instruction. "I said… secure the area." The old man repeated his words.
Sadly, the two just still didn't move.
"Mr. Shen… I think it is very disrespectful for you to barge in here and instruct your people to get rid of me, no?" Finally, Lyca decided to show herself. She walked inside the room and reach out behind the two men's back, pulling two, four inches needle. "They won't be able to move for a while. Don't worry… they're not deaf. They can hear you. But their body is not listening to their brain."
"You— " Shen Jiaojiao instantly walked in front of her grandfather. "What are you doing?"
"Talking?" Lyca stood next to Shen Qui. She didn't miss the relief in his eyes.
"You dared to attack my men?" Old Man Shen said in a cold, stern tone. It was as if this was the first time that someone tried to attack his people. Why was he that surprised? Did he think that Lyca would never fight back and let his men took her?
Stupidity at its finest.
Lyca only smirked in response.
"Why wouldn't she? Did you expect my wife to just let your people get rid of her because you said so?"
"Your wife?" Old Man Shen lifted an eyebrow as his gaze traveled towards Lyca's pale face, dark eyebags, a huge oversize T-shirt that reached her knees, and tights paired with black rubber shoes.
To be fair, Lyca was wearing Shen Qui's shirt. She liked the big shirt and she liked that it had a little of his smell. She didn't see anything wrong with wearing your man's shirt. However, the old man's face was enough to tell her his opinions about her current clothing.