Through out their dinner Xia Ruo Lan's keen eyes observed Ethan Lee intently, her gaze never leaving his handsomely smiling front.
Ethan's every interaction with Seraphina Lu, his flustered state and other reactions to her slightest frown or smile. He was even seen subtly avoiding Xia Ruo Lan's gaze.
It left a sour taste in her mouth for no reason at all.
The sweet wine was suddenly tasting bitter, she couldn't stomach the food with a straight face. Her heart uneasy.
She sat brooding while playing with the fork in her hand instead of digging into the mouthwatering steak in her plate.
"Ruo Lan? Are you okay?"
The tipsy Su Yin leaned forward, her eyes were hazy while she gazed at Xia Ruo Lan. She slurred her words with great difficulty, stammering.
"Uh! I'm fine, just a minor headache"
Startled, Xia Ruo Lan snapped out of her pointless thoughts. She looked at the magnified face of Su Yin sticking to her shoulder and shook her head. Smiling a forceful one.
" The dinner is almost done.. If you're not feeling well we can leave now"
When Sera heard that Xia Ruo Lan's head was aching, she looked at her with a worried gaze. She even noticed that Xia Ruo Lan didn't eat much tonight and her plate was full.
"Yes, if you're.."
Ethan too agreed, he shot Sera a glance then turned to Xia Ruo Lan. His words were pushed back seeing her pained expression.
"Alright.. That's enough, we are going to go back home now!"
All of a sudden Su Yin slammed the table in her drunken state. Standing up she retrieved her coat and started wearing it while slurring her words. Her voice was slightly loud garnering attention.
"Yinyin's right.. She's drunk, I need to get her back before she punches anyone. Last time she almost made a man blind with a large black eye!"
Sweeping a glance at the shocked Ethan and Xia Ruo Lan, Sera smiled wryly. Her words further making their jaws drop. They nodded in unison before standing up to leave from the restaurant.
"Yinyin.. Let's go, I'll take you back to the car"
Trying to get hold of a staggering Su Yin, Sera volunteered while extending her hands.
"Sera.. My bestie! My sister..!"
Clinging like a baby koala Su Yin almost jumped into Sera's slender arms. She was pushed back by the force before balancing herself.
It was a pain in the neck to handle a drunk Yinyin!
"Yes, yes.. I'm your Sera.. Now don't drag me down with you and stand straight!"
Sera coaxed her, Su Yin was like a baby as she smiled goofily nodding her head. Half of her weight was forced up on Sera.
"Let me handle.."
Ethan rushed forward to grab the slithering Su Yin. Sera smiled awkwardly before nodding her head, she was a bit reluctant.
"Ay! I have a boyfriend you know.. And he's strong! You better not touch me, alright.. He will definitely.."
The moment Ethan's hands grazed Su Yin's skin, she shot up her head. Her face changed, she didn't look drunk at all. Ethan gulped.
She pointed her finger to Ethan's forehead, poking his nose and threatened him. She wasn't being kind, her tone fierce with a light ablaze in her big black eyes. Ethan froze.
"kill.. you!"
Her last words were a low whisper. Sera, Ethan, Xia Ruo Lan everyone heard her and were equally dumbfounded. She dropped her head on his chest after spitting her rash but honest words.
Anyone who knew Adrian wouldn't dare refute Su Yin's words. He'd definitely not spare any man laying hands on his Yinyin.
"Heh! I'm really sorry about that.."
Laughing nervously, with an extremely uncomfortable expression plastered across her face Sera apologized. She hung her head low utterly embarrassed.
If only she could dig a hole and hide herself. She raised her head only to meet Ethan's smiling face. He seemed amused by her actions rather than Su Yin's.
"No problem.. Xia Ruo Lan, why are you standing there? Are you still uncomfortable?"
Pushing back all the uneasy, unfamiliar feelings in his chest Ethan queried. Xia Ruo Lan's weird gaze irked him, he couldn't stop himself from asking about her wellbeing.
Xia Ruo Lan didn't reply, she was fidgeting with her fingers while nodding her head. She appeared weak.
The trio made their way to the parking with Ethan carrying Su Yin, she was hammered with just a few drinks. Strange.
"Thank you CEO Lee for your assistance.. I'm really grateful!"
Chuckling, Sera's playful tone was heard once Ethan tucked Su Yin into her car. He shook his head and smiled. It was bright.
"I'm flattered to have acquainted the beautiful Miss Lu and even helped her.."
Smiling, Ethan humored her. They shared a few words before Sera slid at the backseat to accompany Su Yin. The driver drove them back to Lu mansion.
"Where did she go now?"
Turning around Ethan's eyes searched for Xia Ruo Lan. She was nowhere in sight.
Feeling unnerved Ethan forked his cellphone from his pocket to call her when he caught sight of her frail figure.
Xia Ruo Lan was sitting behind the wheel. Without even glancing back at him she drove away, Wang Fang was beside her in the copilot seat.
No wonder she didn't wait, her assistant was already here to fetch her. What a heartless woman!
Grumbling like a scorned wife, Ethan halfheartedly sat inside his black Maybach. Revving up the engine, he raced his way to Lee Holdings office.
- - -
It was already midnight. There was a dead silence in the air at Jade manor. Liu Chenmin was bubbling with irrepressible rage.
It's been hours since Liu Chenmin received that anonymous photographs of Liu Li. He's been searching every high and low of the city to find her but his daughter is untraceable. There was not a single clue of where she might be.
It was frustrating, he was shuddering with anger in his bloodshot eyes. Glaring at the photographs on his desk.
Liu Chenmin kicked the chair across him, it tumbled down with a crash falling on the glass table beside it.
Following the loud sounds of crashing and shattering of glass a loud voice echoed in the living room.
"Mr Liu!"
Sprinting, the same old servant called out with beads of sweat on his face. He looked pitiful.
"What is it?"
Liu Chenmin barked in annoyance, he was already holding back from strangling him. His voice thick with rage.
"This.."
He held a brown package, it was different from the envelope and had a red liquid seeping out through the corner. His heart tightened.
Striding forward Liu Chenmin harshly snatched the package, the old servant staggered backwards. He fell down, staring at the shuddering man in horror.
"Liu Li..!!!"
Squealing like a pig Liu Chenmin cried, his throat constricted with a plenty of emotions running through him. He knelt on the carpet with a thud, his knees hurting but his heart was hurting thousand times more.
His hands were painted red, a soft cry escaped his lips while his eyes were red and teary.
Liu Chenmin was holding a red sequined dress, it was tattered and soaked with blood. Fresh, hot blood. It smelt awful, it's scent repulsive and disgusting.
"I'll kill that bastard! Lucifer!! I'll kill him.."
Like a madman on rampage, Liu Chenmin lost all his rationality. His blazing eyes were staring at the cowering servant. His face had a sinister smile, it grew wider.
He stood up with ease, his hurting knees didn't stop him one bit. His brain was clouded with bloodlust.
Reaching out into his inner coat Liu Chenmin flashed a shiny silver gun, his smile grew and he chuckled dryly. It was dark.
In a flash he pointed the muzzle towards the fearful servant and pulled the trigger. It shot right through his chest, the poor servant's eyes popped out while blood gushed out of his mouth. He tried to croak a few incoherent words before collapsing on the clean carpet. It was now stained with his blood.
"Dad!!"
Just when Liu Chenmin was about to kick the man to vent his frustration, Liu Li's clear voice came into his ears. He snapped his neck and froze.
Liu Chenmin stood rooted to the ground, mouth agape with wide eyes feeling as though everything was an illusion before his eyes.
"Dad! Why did you kill Uncle Bui?"
Ambling forward with an exasperated expression on her face Liu Li shouted, her voice had a slight hint of pain. Uncle Bui was like family to her.
"Liu Li? You.."
With an incredulous expression Liu Chenmin stammered, his gun fell onto the ground bringing him back from his daze.
Unable to understand the situation Liu Chenmin was at a loss for words. He could only bite his tongue and remain silent, thinking in his head.
"It's cold.. Go inside, I'll tell you everything later!"
Breaking the deafening silence Liu Chenmin finally opened his mouth. His words were stern.
"Fine!"
Unhappy by his behavior Liu Li turned around and ran, she was sobbing while ascending the two way staircase.
Zhang Lili stood at an obscure corner with a flabbergasted look on her pale face, her lips trembling.
*ring* *ring*
The landline in the living room rang abruptly, Liu Chenmin creased his eyebrows and glared at the ringing phone.
"Lucifer You Bastard!!"
Not giving the chance for the other person to speak Liu Chenmin bellowed, his eyes flashed with intense hatred.
A cold, terrifying laughter came through the speakers. Liu Chenmin's hold tightened around the phone, a streak of cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
"What you saw today was just a percent of what I could do.. Don't even dare provoke me! Next time I wouldn't wait to brutally shred your dear daughter.."
The chilly, freezing cold voice was enough for goosebumps to rise on Liu Chenmin's spine. His knees went weak and he knelt back on the carpeted floor.
Without waiting for a response the call was cut.
"Truly a devil, Lucifer was truly a devil.."
Muttering Liu Chenmin was on the brink of sanity, his eyes disoriented just like his muddled brain.