While Xu Youning pretended to seriously investigate Ah Guang, a case in City A had caused a great sensation.
Unexpectedly, the tax inspectors who had checked up on Lu Enterprises and confirmed it evaded taxation were accused of illegal conduct, because the lawyers of Lu Enterprises found the evidence against them.
After close investigations and intense debates, the judge pronounced the previous judgment erroneous, which would be reversed. The arrested CFO, as well as his staff members of Lu Enterprises, were confirmed innocent and released in court.
After the trial, the reporters surrounded Lu Boyan and Shen Yuechuan, bombing them with a series of questions—
“Mr. Lu, how did you find out the illegal conduct during their tax inspection over Lu Enterprises? Or did you know that before?”
“Mr. Lu, it’s widely spread that things were not what they looked like when Lu Enterprises repeatedly suffered last year. What do you think of it?”
“Mr. Shen, we know Lu Enterprises is innocent as for the tax evasion case, but what could you say about the Fanting Garden collapse accident? When will you give the buyers an account?”
“Mr. Lu…”
Uncle Qian stopped the car in front of the court. From far away he saw Lu Boyan and Shen Yuechuan walking towards him through a reporters-siege; he quickly got out of the car and opened the door.
Lu Boyan did not get into the car at once.
His glance quieted the reporters at once and even stopped the shutter sounds. The cameras and eyes all focused on him, eager to grasp something that would occupy headlines.
With a calm voice, the same as when Lu Enterprises were said to be evading taxation—when he promised the media he would prove that they were innocent—he said, “We’ll look into the Fanting Garden accident. And we’ll give a press conference once we find out the truth.”
“Mr. Lu!” The reporters got Lu Boyan’s point, and asked, “Do you mean that the previous outcomes weren’t the truth?”
If it turned out that the accident was caused by others manipulating from behind, and not Lu Enterprises, then there should be some hidden truths, just like what was widely spread.
Once dug out, it would be a hit!
The reporters repeatedly asked Lu Boyan about that and looked forward to his reply.
Lu Boyan just ignored them, got into his car and closed the door; for an instant, he and his car disappeared from the reporters’ eyes.
In the car—
Shen Yuechuan stretched, resting his hands under his head, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Overturning the previous judgment of the tax evasion case meant more than just proofing the innocence of Lu Enterprises.
It also meant that they began to fight back, and they would uncover Kang Ruicheng step by step.
Shen Yuechuan looked at Lu Boyan and said, “I want to visit your house. Could you ask Jianan to cook some delicious food for me?!”
Due to that case, he had been busy running about all day long for a week, and finally found out the truth. He thought Lu Boyan would satisfy him. Nevertheless, Lu Boyan seemed like a maniac who was protecting his wife at all times.
Sure enough, Shen Yuechuan was too optimistic. Lu Boyan only said, “No.”
“Why!?”
“The kitchen is too dangerous, so she will never cook within a year.”
Knowing that Lu Boyan wasn’t kidding him, Shen Yuechuan nearly collapsed.
Was the kitchen or anything in it a danger to Su Jianan, who was skilled in cooking like a professional, and who could slice meats with her eyes closed?!
“You’re giving her too much protection,” Shen Yuechuan said with disdain. However, he could understand the “maniac” and said, “I won’t eat anything. I’m just visiting my niece!” Although it was still a little potato in Su Jianan’s belly.
Thinking of his girl, Lu Boyan’s face softened. He asked Uncle Qian to drive home.
After half an hour, the black car stopped in front of the villa. Lu Boyan and Shen Yuechuan walked into the house but didn’t see Su Jianan.
“Young Miss Xiao is here.” Aunt Liu came and told Lu Boyan, “She’s with Young Madam in the back garden. They’re basking in the sun.”
Lu Boyan walked towards the back hall, through which he could reach the garden.
After a few paces, he suddenly smelled a rat and looked back. Shen Yuechuan just stood there, instantly giving a hollow laugh, and said, “I won’t be a third wheel.”
From what Lu Boyan knew of Shen Yuechuan, his main interest was playing gooseberry when there were affectionate lovers.
Lu Boyan thought for a while and guessed it, so he said, “Are you afraid of Yunyun?”
The other day in the office at the hospital, he tied Xiao Yunyun up to force her to tell the truth. Of course, he didn’t dare to meet her.
And of course, he would never admit a shame like that before Lu Boyan. He then caught up with Lu Boyan and said, “Who’s Yunyun? Oh. Is she Su Yicheng’s cousin who works at the Eighth People’s Hospital?”
Lu Boyan knew well that Shen Yuechuan was pretending to be calm but just walked towards the back garden with him.
It was a warm day, and Su Jianan was feeling well those days. Xiao Yunyun was on her day off, so she went to visit Su Jianan, and was taken to the garden to bask as well as take care of the bonsai in the greenhouse.
There was a pot of camellias placed improperly in the greenhouse. Su Jianan bent down and was about to move it, but Xiao Yunyun rushed towards her, saying, “You shouldn’t carry heavy things!”
“How can a pot… be heavy…?” Su Jianan felt embarrassed and pleaded with Xiao Yunyun. “Please let me do it since Lu Boyan isn’t here.”
Lu Boyan was much more cautious than Xiao Yunyun while at home, and he wished Su Jianan would be in bed 24 hours a day, never walk on the stairs, let alone step into the kitchen or bathrooms where she might fall.
“That’s why I’m keeping my eyes on you.” Xiao Yunyun lifted the pot, and said with a smile, “He warned me before going out!”
“…” Su Jianan helplessly pointed at a corner with sunshine in it, and said, “Just place it there.”
After putting down the pot, Xiao Yunyun saw Lu Boyan approaching, followed by… Shen Yuechuan, who had tied her up on the chair the other day!
Su Jianan also saw Lu Boyan, and she spoke to Xiao Yunyun with a low voice, “Don’t tell him I tried to move the pot.”
Lu Boyan would not scold her once he knew it; he would simply have all the bonsai moved away…
Xiao Yunyun replied “Oh” while scowling at Shen Yuechuan.
Su Jianan walked out of the greenhouse, ran to Lu Boyan and asked, “How was the trial?”
Lu Boyan hugged Su Jianan and sheltered her from the wind, saying, “It’s cold here, let’s go inside and then I’ll tell you.”
Su Jianan replied with a smile, “All right.”
Shen Yuechuan already noticed Xiao Yunyun’s irate eyes. Hearing what Lu Boyan said, he thought, “You’re a real pal.” Before he could catch up with Lu Boyan, a lady’s voice filled with anger came from the greenhouse. “Shen Yuechuan, stop!”
Hearing that, Su Jianan stopped, looking at Lu Boyan confusedly, and asked, “Do Yunyun and Yuechuan know each other?” Just then, she thought about introducing them to each other, for they were of a similar age.
Lu Boyan said, “They met and have known each other not long before.”
Su Jianan glanced at them, feeling quite weird, saying, “But they don’t seem… to just know each other.”
“They bear mutual grudges,” said Lu Boyan.
“Grudges?” Su Jianan looked at Shen Yuechuan whose face became pale, and then Xiao Yunyun who was in full fury. She drew Lu Boyan’s sleeves and said, “Wait. I want to see how they make peace. Can we?”
Lu Boyan held Su Jianan in his arms and lifted her. Su Jianan cried out in surprise, subconsciously putting her arms around his neck.
What a surprise attack, he shouldn’t have done that while she wasn’t looking!
Su Jianan was about to reprove him, but he suddenly lowered his head, pecked her lips, and said, “Sweetie, don’t be a third wheel.”
Su Jianan blushed, trying to hide her shyness by looking back at Xiao Yunyun, then said, “How could I become a third wheel since they aren’t lovers?” From Xiao Yunyun’s look, Su Jianan only saw her grudges against Shen Yuechuan.
Lu Boyan raised his eyebrow and said, “They aren’t lovers at the moment, but they may be in the future.”
Su Jianan saw what Lu Boyan meant within seconds.
In fact, she would not object if Xiao Yunyun developed a relationship with Shen Yuechuan.
Shen Yuechuan, who usually seemed careless and jokey, was a reliable workmate. She used to think about introducing Xiao Yunyun to him, a casual but responsible man.
“But…” Su Jianan said with hesitation, “Yuechuan has to gain my brother’s trust.”
Just then, they entered the house.
Lu Boyan released Su Jianan, smiling, and said, “Your brother isn’t that free.”
Su Jianan felt more puzzled, and asked, “Why?”
Lu Boyan did not answer her, but said, “I think what you want to know now is the outcome of the trial.”
Su Jianan became slow during pregnancy, so she just followed up and asked, “How was it?”
Lu Boyan took out his phone and showed Su Jianan the news.
The retrial outcome occupied the headlines on the main websites with bold red words: erroneous judgment on tax evasion case of Lu Enterprises. Guilt reversed.
The report detailed the trial. At the end of it, Su Jianan could not help but turning her lips into a smile. She handed Lu Boyan the phone and said, “You should’ve taken me with you.”
She followed Lu Boyan when he was about to go out. However, he said there would be many reporters surrounding them after the trial, and he did not want her to be accidentally injured again. Otherwise, the reporters would all lose their jobs.
After thinking it over, Su Jianan realized that since the public did not know she was back with Lu Boyan, they would be surrounded once she showed up publicly together with Lu Boyan. And, Xiao Yunyun went to visit her then, so she followed Lu Boyan’s words and stayed at home.
She felt regret, however. She wished she had accompanied Lu Boyan when the judge pronounced Lu Enterprises innocent and when he breathed a sigh of relief.
Lu Boyan saw through Su Jianan at once; with a meaningful smile, he said, “It’s not too late to celebrate with me now.”
Su Jianan looked up vacantly, seeing Lu Boyan’s face closer and closer to her; he covered her lips with his.
“Whew…”
Su Jianan felt kind of uneasy, thinking that Aunt Liu or others would see them, while Lu Boyan just made her enjoy the kiss.
He placed his arm around her waist, lightly holding her closer to him, with the other hand cupping her head from behind, and continued his soft kiss.
At last, Su Jianan was immersed in his gentle manner.