The break of dawn brought light and warmth to the Earth, awakening the little island and the sea with a bath of golden morning light. Some people welcomed the rays of morning while some others were plunged into a dark abyss on this sunny morning. Shentu Yi, Shentu Tian-Feng, Shentu Wei-Ye and Wang Fang were taken away by the police. There were material evidence and human testimony against them; the evidence was conclusive and what awaited them was the punishment of justice.

Xia Lei could finally relax after helping Shentu Tian-Yin solve her problem. There was no need to keep pretending to be her boyfriend or fiancé and he would not be hounded by Liang Si-Yao asking if he had held hands or kissed Shentu Tian-Yin, or anything like that.

The helicopter flew through the sky. Blue skies were overhead and blue sea at his feet - Xia Lei smiled and he felt great.

Shentu Tian-Yin, on the other hand, did not have a trace of a smile on her face. She watched the sea, deep in silent thought.

Xia Lei knew the reason for her dark mood and he said gently and comfortingly, “Tian-Yin, there won’t be anyone to harm you in the future. Your father is awake too. These are all good things. Don’t overthink it. Your Second Uncle’s family, and you... It’s not worth being so heartbroken.”

He did not mention Shentu Wei-Ye; he felt that Shentu Wei-Ye was not worthy to be her grandfather.

Shentu Tian-Yin forced a smile. “You don’t have to comfort me - I’m not as weak as you think I am. I won’t be heartbroken over my Second Uncle’s family and my grandfather. They are not family to me anymore. I’m just... just... a little disappointed.”

Xia Lei patted her shoulder. “Don’t think so much about it. Have a good bath and sleep when you’re back. It’ll all be okay when you wake up.”

“Some things cannot be solved by sleep.”

“What things?”

“You...” Shentu Tian-Yin did not complete her sentence. “Never mind. You won’t understand. Please convey my thanks to Miss Liang.”

Xia Lei paused. “What are you thanking her for?”

“I’ve borrowed her boyfriend for so long - shouldn’t I show my appreciation?” said Shentu Tian-Yin.

Xia Lei laughed. “That’s true. She’s a martial artist and a daughter of the world, if you’d like to use an old saying. She’s quite refreshing and sometimes she’s like a boy...”

Shentu Tian-Yin seemed to not want to listen to chatter about Liang Si-Yao and cut Xia Lei short. “Let me ask you something.”

“What?”

“Who’s prettier, me or Liang Si-Yao?” Shentu Tian-Yin looked silently at Xia Lei, waiting for his answer.

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

“Uh...” Xia Lei said awkwardly, “How can I compare? Both of you are pretty.”

Shentu Tian-Yin smiled faintly. “Fingers have different lengths and people are of different heights. There are no two people who are just as pretty. You say it - Liang Si-Yao and myself - we are definitely not the same kind of pretty. Who is prettier?”

Her question lacked a prefix. The whole question, prefix included, would be: In your heart, who is prettier, me or Liang Si-Yao?

Xia Lei, however, did not think so deeply and he felt like he was having a headache. “Why must there be a difference?”

Shentu Tian-Yin rolled her eyes at him. “I’m curious. Tell me. When did you become so wishy-washy?”

Xia Lei smiled wryly and thought for a bit before he said, “You’re prettier.”

Shentu Tian-Yin smiled and her smile was as bright and beautiful as a hundred blooming flowers.

Shentu Tian-Yin’s looks were indeed prettier than Liang Si-Yao to Xia Lei but Liang Si-Yao’s figure trumped Shentu Tian-Yin, especially her pair of long legs. Liang Si-Yao’s legs would win even against Asia’s number one leg model, Lin Zhi-Ling. Xia Lei cleverly did not speak of this precise answer. In his fairly scant experience, it was not a smart idea to say to the face of the girl he was talking to that another girl has a better figure than her.

As they chatted, the helicopter landed. Some police cars were already waiting at the airport, along with several police officers and reporters who had heard the news.

Shentu Yi, Shentu Tian-Feng, Wang Fang and Shentu Wei-Ye were all taken off the helicopter. Only Shentu Wei-Ye was not handcuffed.

The group of reporters surrounded Shentu Tian-Yin and Xia Lei once they got off the helicopter with their SLR cameras clicking away. Those holding microphones and recorders also shot quick questions at them.

“Miss Shentu, we got some information that an assassination attempt was made - can you comment?” asked a reporter.

“Miss Shentu, I saw your Second Uncle and Shentu Tian-Feng in handcuffs. Does this mean people from the Shentu clan wanted to assassinate you?”

“Miss Shentu, will this affect the hierarchy in Vientaine Group? Will you restructure the management of Vientaine Group?”

“Miss Shentu...”

The group of reporters did not seem to care about Shentu Tian-Yin’s answers and only about getting their questions out.

A few police officers came over to drive the reporters away but Shentu Tian-Yin signalled that there was no need. She faced the recorders and microphones being thrust in her face and said, “I was indeed the target of assassination but the matter is closed. My boyfriend Xia Lei has caught the criminal.”

The reporters were aflame with more questions after hearing her words.

A reporter fired a question, “Miss Shentu, is your boyfriend this gentleman next to you?”

Shentu Tian-Yin smiled as she nodded. “Yes.” She then grabbed Xia Lei’s hand in front of all the reporters.

Xia Lei’s headache intensified. He felt very much like plunging head-first into the sea instead of standing here fencing questions with Shentu Tian-Yin!

As the goddess of men’s dreams, the news of him being her boyfriend was definitely going to be all over the news and even exaggerated. What would Liang Si-Yao think if she saw these articles?

“Mr Xia, can you tell us how you caught the criminal?”

“Mr Xia, how did you get to know Miss Shentu?”

“Mr Xia, how long have you and Miss Shentu been dating?”

“Mr Xia, when are you getting married?”

Xia Lei froze at the amount of questions being thrown at him and was at a loss as to what to say.

Shentu Tian-Yin, on the other hand, had a smile on her face and was happy to let the reporters take pictures.

At that moment, a male voice said, “Would the chairperson of Vientaine Group date an unknown person? This isn’t true, I know.”

The group of reporters looked back and suited bodyguards were already pushing reporters aside, opening up a path.

Xia Lei looked over and saw Gu Ke-Wu behind the group of reporters, and Dong Wu and Qin Qi behind him. Qin Qi was in sportswear as usual, while Dong Wu had his arms crossed with an ancient-looking sword in his arms. He looked like an elderly man out for his morning exercise.

For some inexplicable reason, Xia Lei felt like thanking Gu Ke-Wu for the words he said at this encounter.

Gu Ke-Wu held a bouquet of roses in his hands as he walked slowly to Shentu Tian-Yin. He put a charming smile on his face. “Tian-Yin, I know your relationship with Xia Lei is not real and that you were using him to draw out those who plotted against you. Why did you have to get Xia Lei to help you? You could have just told me about something like this - I could help you too.”

Shentu Tian-Yin wrinkled her brows. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I apologise. Please accept my sincerity.” Gu Ke-Wu held the roses in his hands to Shentu Tian-Yin.

Shentu Tian-Yin did not move but looked coldly at Gu Ke-Wu.

“Isn’t this the vice-chairman of North Group, Gu Ke-Wu? So that’s what’s going on - he’s Shentu Tian-Yin’s boyfriend, isn’t he?” said one of the reporters.

“That must be it. How could a person with an unknown background be the boyfriend of the chairperson of Vientaine Group? He won’t even qualify to be a spare tyre; he’s not suitable and he lacks the right family background,” said another reporter.

Another reporter sighed, “What sort of drama is this? The wealthy sure are chaotic. They’re going to catch up to the entertainment industry soon.”

“Let’s go.” Shentu Tian-Yin pulled Xia Lei with her.

Gu Ke-Wu did not block their way. His aim in appearing at that moment was simple - he wanted to let these reporters tell the outside world that Shentu Tian-Yin was his!

Xia Lei, however, stopped in front of Gu Ke-Wu. “Gu Ke-Wu. My car.”

Gu Ke-Wu laughed. “Your car? Heh heh, I brought it for you - it’s in the car park outside. No need to thank me, I just find your car an eyesore on my property.”

Shentu Tian-Yin did not wait for Xia Lei to spar with Gu Ke-Wu with words and pulled him to the exit.

Dong Wu and Qin Qi blocked their way.

“When shall we settle our score, punk?” sneered Dong Wu.

Xia Lei smiled. “Anytime. Oh, nice sword. Don’t use it on people next time. Just keep it nice and pretty; it’ll get damaged if you use it on people.”

“You-” Dong Wu was irate.

Qin Qi held Dong Wu back. He did not say anything to Xia Lei and just stared at him with an icy gaze.

Xia Lei had a feeling that Shentu Tian-Yin’s problems were not over. Her character, her assets - the men who wanted her were too many to count, and Gu Ke-Wu was just one of them.

Outside the airport, Xia Lei spotted his BMW M6 by the road. It wasn’t a car anymore but a pile of scrap metal. There were hammer-marks all over the body of the car and the roof had caved in, becoming almost parallel to the steering wheel. The bonnet was gone and the engine inside cracked. The four wheels were also misshapen. There was no fixing this car with this amount of damage.

Just then, Gu Ke-Wu walked out of the airport with his bodyguards around him. “Xia Bro, you can tell the insurance company that I ruined your car. They’ll probably pay up because it’s me, haha,” he crowed.

Insurance companies wouldn’t compensate man-made damages.

“You fucker!” Xia Lei flared with anger and strode towards Gu Ke-Wu.

Shentu Tian-Yin hurriedly grabbed Xia Lei by the arm and hung on to stop him, saying, “Don’t. He’s provoking you on purpose.”

Xia Lei’s impulsiveness was quelled by Shentu Tian-Yin’s words. If he initiated a fight, his opponent had two experts with him and his bodyguards too - he’d have a whole lot of trouble no matter if he won or lost.

“Forget it. It’s just a car. Let’s go,” said Xia Lei.

“Nn.” Shentu Tian-Yin walked towards the car park. Fu Chuan-Fu was already waiting there next to her Rolls Royce Phantom.

“Tian-Yin, let’s have lunch together. I owe you an apology. Give me a chance to explain,” said Gu Ke-Wu loudly.

Shentu Tian-Yin suddenly turned around and stuck the middle finger up at Gu Ke-Wu.

Xia Lei was gobsmacked. Shentu Tian-Yin was an elegant ice-queen in his eyes but she actually made such a vulgar gesture - what’s wrong with her?

Gu Ke-Wu just laughed and watched Xia Lei and Shentu Tian-Yin get in the car.

“Young Master Wu, I don’t think you have a chance with Shentu Tian-Yin with this punk around,” said Qin Qi measuredly.

“So? You know what to do,” said Gu Ke-Wu evenly.

Qin Qi exchanged glances with Dong Wu, and both their gazes had the same look.

“An opportunity is coming. I heard that that Xia Lei punk learnt his Wing Chun from Liang Zheng-Chun. He is Liang Zheng-Chun’s Last Disciple. The martial arts seminar is in about ten days - get me and Qin Qi an invitation letter and we can help you vent some of your anger,” said Dong Wu.

“You want to go after Liang Zheng-Chun?” said Gu Ke-Wu.

“That punk will probably be there too,” said Dong Wu.

Qin Qi sneered, “Two birds with one stone.”

Gu Ke-Wu smiled. “Easy. I’ll get you two whatever you need.”