The Bai and Li family arrived in Fenhua City after a 3-hour flight, then headed straight towards the villa they've rented where the two prominent families could all stay together for the duration of the event.

Jet lagged and excited to tackle their bed to take a rest before doing sightseeing around the city, the two families entered the beautiful villa and removed their coats, and replaced their shoes for a pair of comfortable indoor slippers.

​​

The villa's housekeepers assisted them to settle in and bring their luggage to their rooms.

"I can't wait to visit Chanzui District again. The street food there was amazing." Li Yifei animatedly said to Gabriel. "There's a lot you could choose from, ranging from sweet, savory, and spicy."

"We haven't been there last time we visited Fenhua," Gabriel replied, pinching his chin in contemplation. "Everyone was so busy that we didn't have enough time to explore further."

"Then I'll show you around!" Her eyes shone with enthusiasm. "There's even a great shop where they sell top-quality anime and gaming merchandise."

They continue to converse within themselves, unaware that they've caught their parents' attention.

"Were those two this close before?" Agathe muttered beside Han Rushi, leaning slightly towards her ear.

"Well, if they're talking about their common interests, they could be quite close—but as friends." Han Rushi sighed. "Sadly, our Feifei already has a crush on someone else."

"And I suspect our Gabby is currently seeing someone."

"Do you have an idea who the lucky girl is?"

"Negative." Agathe pouted. Her son was too slippery and became more cautious after she caught him sneaking out late at night.

Inconspicuously listening to the two matriarch's conversation about their youngest children, Lillie shook her head in amusement.

Fate must be having too much fun with her family's lives.

"What about you, Lillie? Do you want something specific to eat for dinner?" Han Rushi asked her daughter-in-law when the topic arose.

Lillie looked at her and thought for a moment before saying, "Chongqing hotpot."

Hearing her answer, everyone who knows about Lillie and spicy food darted their heads at her with surprised faces.

"You want spicy hotpot, darling?" Alexander Bai reiterated for confirmation, making sure that he heard her right.

"En." She said with a single nod.

"Sure, honey. We'll have the spice level toned down then." Agathe Crevier smiled at her daughter indulgently.

"No. I want it to be how it should be." Lillie shook her head, determination coating her tone.

Mouth-numbing, was left unspoken.

"Are you sure, sis?" Gabriel was puzzled by his sister's request.

Although Lillie has low spice tolerance, she still enjoys some spicy cuisine. But it was usually prepared less spicy for her to tolerate.

So, to say that she wants the hotpot to be prepared how it should be was shocking for the Bai family.

Lillie's aware of her spice tolerance and wouldn't ask for a spicy hotpot under normal circumstances.

But this was not under normal circumstances. She's been craving spicy hotpot ever since she saw it from the drama she was watching during their flight.

She blames Ethan. He influenced their baby to like spicy food like him.

***

"Achoo!"

"The weather's exceptionally chilly today, sir. I told you that a coat wouldn't suffice." Yu Minglian, Ethan's secretary who he brought with him to Shanghai, politely remarked.

Sniffing behind his handkerchief, Ethan's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "I don't think it's the weather."

Yu Minglian raised a confused brow as she and her boss strode inside Hong Long's subsidiary company in Shanghai.

"Let's get this started quickly so I can be with my wife." He grumbled, his glare scaring everyone within range.

"Understandable, sir." Yu Minglian serenely nodded along—already used of this wife-adoring character of his—as she securely hugged the files necessary for the meeting.

Getting inside the elevator and waiting for it to bring them to their floor, Ethan can't help but thoroughly think over this unexpected trip.

The subsidiary company runs independently from the parent company, in this case, Hong Long. Yet as the parent company, Hong Long still holds control over the subsidiary and has the authority to oversee management but not its operations.

Normally, they don't need him, the CEO of the parent company, to manage their issue.

They have their own CEO and board for that. But the subsidiary company's CEO was the issue.

The fool signed a tempting contract without informing the board. When it was discovered that the contract was a sham, an uproar broke out.

How this fool even fitted the requirements of CEO and managed the office for a couple of years, but didn't suspect anything wrong with the contract being too good to be true, baffles Ethan.

Have the power made him confident? So much that it dulled his reasonings?

All things considered and much to Ethan's dismay at its untimeliness, the subsidiary's board begged for his assistance when their CEO was proven to be incompetent with the current issue they're facing.

Naturally, the subsidiary company's CEO was fired.

Too bad. Ethan's fist was seriously itching to punch the fool's face for separating him from his wife due to his stupidity.

His glare didn't subside in the slightest as he sat down in the conference room. The board was so frightened by his murderous countenance that they forgot to stand and greet him.

They didn't even dare meet his eyes in fear their souls would leave their bodies because of it.

Ethan's patience hit critical when the silence stretched longer than necessary.

Slamming his palm on the table with a resounding 'bang', he said in a low voice, "If someone doesn't start speaking right now, I will tear all of your throats out."

They should've known by now that Ethan Li's wrath was a thing of horror. He wasn't called the Business World's Devil for nothing, after all.

***

Lillie headed straight to hers and Ethan's designated bedroom after the pleasant trip around the city with the whole family. They went to a popular restaurant where they had a wonderful dinner of spicy hotpot.

Surprisingly, she tolerated the spicy hotpot well without bursting into involuntary tears or panting like a dehydrated dog. She even ate more than her usual portion.

Everyone was happy and enjoyed the meal together as one family. However, the puzzle wasn't complete without Ethan. It was truly a shame.

Ethan's absence affected Lillie more than they realize. She was an expert at schooling her expression, so no one noticed the dispiritedness hidden deep within the pools of her eyes.

Hopefully, he joins them soon. There are a lot of places Lillie wanted to visit in Fenhua with Ethan. Just the two of them.

Freshened up, she snuggled into the empty bed and leaned her back on the headboard, completely worn out.

Yawning, her eyelids felt heavy. But the urge of wanting to see and hear Ethan before she sleeps kept her relatively awake.

Looking at the time, Lillie calculated the timezone in Shanghai and checked Ethan's schedule to see if he's free.

He's not.

Sighing despondently, she placed her phone on the nightstand and lie down. Turning her body to the side, she snuggled deeper into the warm duvet and closed her eyes.

She was lulling herself to sleep when her ears picked something.

Bzzt...bzzt...bzzt...

Slowly fluttering her eyes open, she turned to the sound of her phone vibrating. Blindly patting around for it from the nightstand, she checked who it was.

"Hey," She drowsily greeted upon answering the video call, her cheek squeezed against the pillow.

Their environment contrast. While it was bright and sunny from where Ethan was, it was dark with Lillie.

[Did I wake you?] Ethan's gently asked, guilt etching his voice as he looked at her, obviously tired and lying in bed.

The thought of disturbing his pregnant wife's sleep due to his selfishness of wanting to see her gnaw his conscience.

"I wasn't sleeping yet. Though I was about to." Lillie admitted. "I actually wanted to call you before I sleep, but I don't want to interrupt your meeting."

[We had a short break. I think I frightened the board too much.] He doesn't sound sorry for whatever mental torture he put those poor souls through. [I miss you.]

"I miss you too," Lillie sighed forlornly. "Terribly."

[I'm sorry for making you wait, I promise to make it up to you.] On the other side of the line, Ethan clenched his empty hand.

He hates this as much as Lillie. He hates being away from her but hates upsetting her the most—even if it's technically not his fault. But he felt like it still was.

"I love you."

[I love you.] Ethan stares at Lillie's adorable sleepy face on his phone with fondness. The image of her half-lidded eyes and the slight pout of her lips as her cheek was squished against the pillow was something he shouldn't let slip past.

Hence, he took a screenshot to capture the moment.

This was only for his eyes to see.

[Good night, love, I'll be with you before you know it.]

"Hm, good afternoon to you."

Laughing softly, Ethan said "see you soon" and "I love you" one last time before ending the call, even though his mind was yelling at him, vehemently opposed to the idea.

'Knock knock'

"Sir," Yu Minglian peeked her head out from the door. "The board's ready...hopefully more ready to take you on this time."

"They could only wish." He scoffed.

Because he won't be showing mercy.