Unexpected Second Chance at Love

In the early morning, while the majority in Imperial was still asleep, Lu Tian awoke from his slumber. He doesn't get out of bed right away but held his wife in his arms.

His eyes quickly adjusted to the still darkroom as the sun had yet to rise.

He glances down at the sleeping silhouette in his embrace.

After dinner, Liu Shan, Lin Hui, and Xu Long stayed for a while before heading home after he gave the men a task to do. He and Yue Ling saw the Liu siblings off to bed and went to sleep themselves.

The moment his wife lay on the bed, she used him as a pillow and fell asleep right away.

He wanted to chat with her and listen to her day, but he decided not to bother her. He knew she was exhausted as it was a long day for her.

His memories of the night before came to an end. He slowly slid his left arm away from under his wife. He made sure his movements did not disturb her sleep.

He moves the blanket and sits up on the bed but doesn't get up.

"I hope you do not overwork yourself today."

He murmurs under his breath and gently caress her cheek.

"Mmm..."

His sudden touch caused Yue Ling to hum a soft moan. She nestles against his body but, unable to feel his warmth, her eyes unhurriedly open.

Through her half-awake state, she looks at him. She couldn't see his face but could make out his silhouette in the dark.

She smiles up at him and stretches her arm to hold his hand on her cheek.

"What time is it? Are you leaving already?"

Her sleepish voice was faint but loud enough for Lu Tian to hear. He yearned to have her in his arms again but pushed back this feeling.

"It's 4 am."

His thumb gently caresses her cheek again, and he leans forward. His face closes in with her, and he places a light kiss on her lips.

He puts his other hand on the bed to support his body from falling on top of her.

"Go back to sleep. I still need to get ready."

Yue Ling tightens her hold on his hand and rubs her cheek against his palm. Her movement made her look like a kitten trying to engrave his warmth.

"Wake me up before you leave."

Lu Tian smiles at her sweetness. She wasn't fully awake but still wanted to see him out.

He moves away from her but only to place another kiss on her—this time, not on her lips but her forehead.

"I will. So go back to sleep."

Yue Ling tried to keep her eyes open but was unable to win against her sleepy body. Her eyes gradually close, making her fall back into slumber as her quiet breathing escapes her.

Hearing her soft breathing, Lu Tian sits up on the bed. He grabbed the blanket and tucked her in like a child.

He stood up from the bed and walked in the direction of the adjoining bathroom in their room.

The sound of the shower running soon resonates from inside the bathroom.

While Lu Tian got ready for his flight to city Z, Yue Ling had submerged herself into dreamland.

"Yue Ling."

Lu Tian finished getting ready and sat on the bed as he woke up his wife as promised. He made sure not to be too loud since they had guests.

Hearing him call her name, Yue Ling woke up with a sleepy face. She could see him a little clearer due to the small light illuminating from outside the window.

The room wasn't bright but enough to let her make out his face better than the first time she awoke.

She stretches her arms with a slight yawn.

"Is it time already?"

Lu Tian answers with a mm but couldn't help smiling at her behavior. She looked like a child being awakened for school.

He reaches for the blanket and tucks her in again as if not to let any cold air touch her body.

"I'll see you at dinner."

He caresses the side of her head, moving any strands of hair on her face behind her ear. He leans down and kisses her lip with a soft brush of his lips.

"I love you."

Yue Ling blushed at his kiss. She was still shy when it came to his morning kisses. She hadn't brushed her teeth, but that doesn't seem to bother him.

She places a hand on the back of his and moves it to her mouth. Her lips gently press against his palm, and she smiles up at him.

"I love you too."

Lu Tian's insides softened like melted butter on a warm day. He forces back his urges to cancel his flight and reluctantly moves his hand away.

He stood up from the bed and grabbed his small luggage set at the side. He doesn't say anymore and walks out of the room.

Yue Ling watched as the outline of his tall figure got further and further away.

Her eyes slowly flutter, and before he disappears from her line of sight, she whispers in the hope that he will hear her.

"Please travel safe and come home soon."

Her eyes grew heavy, and she lets sleep take over.

"I miss you already..."

Lu Tian exits the house. Outside, his subordinates Jiangyu and Yiqing were already parked and waiting for him.

He steps down from the porch and walks over to the car.

"Good morning, boss."

Yiqing stood in front of the car and greeted the aloof man. He opens the rear door and waits for his boss to get inside.

Lu Tian returned the greeting with a faint nod. The loving and doting side he showed to his wife was now replaced with a cold and indifferent expression.

He gets inside the backseat but pauses. He looks back at the house and stares in the direction of the bedroom his wife is sleeping.

"Wolf Team?"

He didn't need to ask in detail, for Yiqing understood right away. He nods his head, and an assuring smile flashes on his face.

"All in position."

His eyes flashed with seriousness, and he clenched his fists, making his hands slightly trembling.

"We won't let anything happen to the boss lady."

He wasn't bluffing, and neither were the members of Wolf Team. Never will they forget their incompetence of being unable to protect their boss lady.

The first time, he and Jiangyu were not present as they left to attend the annual meeting with their boss in city Z. During their absence, Chu Li Xiang sent his men to kidnap Yue Ling.

Xu Long and the remaining members of Wolf Team were assigned to protect the boss lady, but they were a step behind. Fortunately, Lin Hui was with Yue Ling, and no mishap befell her.

However, the second time was an incident no one will ever forget.

Despite everyone being present at the scene, the life of their unborn young master was taken. If they had paid more careful attention, such a tragedy would have never happened.

Oblivious to his subordinate's thoughts, Lu Tian looks away from the house. He glances at Yiqing but doesn't say a word and gets inside the rear seat.

Yiqing closes the door and gets in the passenger seat. He is going with his boss to the airport, but only Jiangyu is leaving with Lu Tian to City Z.

He wants to stay behind and protect his boss lady from any harm.

As Lu Tian heads for his morning flight, time goes forward as usual, and the sun rises from the horizon to wake up the people of Imperial.

Yue Ling's eyes fluttered open, not too slow nor too fast. The white ceiling greeted her, and she slowly turned to the side of the bed Lu Tian slept.

She couldn't help but sigh when she saw the empty cold space.

Her thoughts did not travel too far when she got out of bed. She indeed Miss Lu Tian already, but she cannot stay in bed all day missing him.

Within minutes, she got ready, wearing a grey knitted round neck sweater, teamed with matching trousers for the perfect lounge loot. She put her long dark wavy hair in a high ponytail and headed downstairs.

As she arrives in the open wall space between the living room and kitchen, she looks at the long hallway to the guest bedroom.

The door to the room was still closed, and the house was quiet as if she was the only person home. However, she knew that the Liu siblings were still in dreamland.

She decides not to wake them up and looks away. She enters the kitchen and starts preparing a quiet breakfast.

By she finished cooking, the sun outside was high enough to brighten the house. She set the table but doesn't leave to wake up her guests.

She thought it was best to let them sleep in for a while and decided to sit in the living room. She couldn't wait to have breakfast with the three siblings.

"Good morning, Miss Han."

The second Yue Ling steps out of the kitchen, she stumbles upon Liu Ye. She wasn't surprised at his sudden appearance and smile.

"Good morning."

She glances behind him to Liu Jingyi with a sleepy Jianan leaning against her waist for support.

Seeing that each person was still sleepy and trying their best to wake up, she chuckles. After all, they were still in their pajamas.

"Was I too loud? Did I wake you all up with the noise?"

Liu Ye and Liu Jingyi shook their heads no while Jianan rubbed his partially opened eyes. He (Jianan) inhales the delicious aroma from the kitchen and grins from ear to ear with his eyes closed.

"Miss Angel, we woke up because of the smell of food."

Yue Ling stares down at the little boy. Despite his sleepy state, his smile was one that could brighten any person's day.

She looks away from him to his older siblings.

"Go get cleaned up. I've already prepared dinner."

Liu Ye nods his head and takes Jianan's hand before leading his little brother to the bathroom.

Behind the two, Liu Jingyi could not take her eyes off of Yue Ling. It was as if she had come to a realization about something and stuck in a daze.

Yue Ling was quick to read the girl's thoughts but didn't point them out. She only smiles and turns away, heading back into the kitchen.

Until Yue Ling was no longer in view did Liu Jingyi came out from her daze.. Her eyes blinked a few times before she turned around to find her two brothers.