Chapter 41: The Leg Trap! Longing Surges Like the Tide

“Hm? Why does that sound of brakes seem so familiar?” Chen Luo lifted his gaze toward the entrance of the mall. Dusk was falling, and the sky was growing dim. He saw a Maybach screech to a halt at the entrance, and a figure hurriedly stepped out from the car.

The striking woman in a black evening gown instantly drew every eye. Her breathtaking beauty and alluring figure made everything around her fade into insignificance. All eyes, men and women alike, were drawn to her as she strode swiftly in her black high heels toward Chen Luo.

“Wen Wan? Didn’t she say she was on a business trip?”

As she advanced, a line of women in black shirts appeared behind her. Wen Wan, like a seasoned general leading her valiant warriors, launched a bold charge.

“Wow, are these women here for revenge? That’s quite an entrance!”

“Could she be the legendary queenpin of the underworld, here for a showdown?”

“No, I think it’s less about vengeance and more like catching a cheating man in the act.”

The rapid rhythm of footsteps grew ever closer. The distance to Chen Luo was less than a hundred meters. In no time, Wen Wan had reached him.

“Wait, didn’t you say you’d be away for a week?” Chen Luo had barely finished speaking when Wen Wan reached out, wrapped her arm around his neck, and pulled him into a nearby alley.

“Clear the area!” Mo Lan shouted, and the line of black-clad bodyguards immediately blocked both ends of the alley, letting no one approach.

“Brother Luo!” Liu Hua finally snapped to her senses and tried to rush into the alley, only to be stopped by Mo Lan.

“Liu Hua, you know President Wen would never hurt Chen Luo.”

“Come on, of course I know she won’t hurt him! But she—she’ll take advantage of him!”

At this, Mo Lan just laughed.

“Are they a couple?”

“They are!”

“Then isn’t it perfectly reasonable for a girlfriend to flirt with her boyfriend?”

“It is!”

“Then that settles it. Just wait here patiently,” Mo Lan said.

Liu Hua bit back her retort, nearly grinding her molars to dust. She’s infuriating! But she makes too much sense—I have no comeback!

…

A loud thud echoed in the alley. Chen Luo’s back hit the wall, his knees buckling under the sudden impact. He was about to speak when a heavy sound rang in his ear.

Thump!

He turned to look. A black high heel had landed beside his ear, and above it extended a long, shapely leg clad in black.

A leg block!

He was surprised by Wen Wan’s flexibility—she could pull off such an acrobatic move?

“Don’t speak.” Wen Wan’s voice was cool and commanding. Chen Luo turned his head only to find her red lips already pressing against his.

“Mmph!” A deep kiss, accompanied by Wen Wan’s ragged breathing, created an ambiguous atmosphere in the shadowed alley.

“I missed you so much.”

Wen Wan released his lips, whispering hoarsely into his ear.

Only then did Chen Luo realize that her kiss had stirred up the deepest ache of longing in his own heart. Though they’d only been apart for less than a day, the longing between them surged like a tide, threatening to drown them both.

“I missed you too,” he murmured.

He reached out, wrapped her leg around his waist, and held her close, their embrace so tight it seemed they might fuse into one.

After about half an hour, the flames of their yearning finally calmed. They let each other go, though their hands remained entwined. Seeing Wen Wan’s travel-worn face, Chen Luo could easily guess she’d rushed back because of him. He gently smoothed her tousled hair, guilt welling up inside.

“Wen Wan, my troubles are nothing important. Your work matters more—you didn’t need to come all the way back.”

“No. Any small matter of yours is more important to me than any great matter of my own.”

Her words moved him deeply, but for her sake, he steeled himself.

“Wen Wan, I want to carve out my own place in the world.”

“I can’t always be sheltered under your wings. I have to grow up. This milk tea shop is the first step in my business plans. I hope you’ll respect my effort.”

“I don’t have to surpass you, but at least I want to be able to help you, to have the strength to protect you, to stand at your side at the peak—not behind you. Can you understand?”

After hearing him out, Wen Wan smiled instead.

“Mwah!” She planted a fierce kiss on his cheek.

“All right, my little man is growing up, wanting to protect me now. Very well, I’ll listen to you.”

After another tender moment, they walked out of the alley hand in hand. Mo Lan and the others had been waiting for some time.

“President Wen, the car is ready. We’ll head to Lin City in the neighboring province soon.”

“Good.” Wen Wan held Chen Luo’s hand. “I have to go again. This week will be very busy.”

“I know how proud and ambitious you are, but don’t push yourself too hard. If you ever get hurt, I’ll be heartbroken.”

“I know. I’ll handle whatever I can on my own, but if things ever get too difficult, I’ll come to you.”

“Deal.” Wen Wan kissed his forehead, then left the mall with Mo Lan and her entourage.

Chen Luo watched her retreating figure, a tinge of melancholy in his heart.

She hasn’t even left my sight, and I’m already missing her. Is this what being in love feels like?

…

Wen Wan settled into the car as it pulled away from Hang City. Sitting in the back seat, she was silent for a moment before turning to Mo Lan.

“The little guy doesn’t want to be overprotected—he wants to fight for himself. I mustn’t spoil his enthusiasm.”

“That means we can’t send any of our own people to help him. So, whoever looks after him must be a stranger, young, and hold real sway in Hang City’s restaurant industry.”

Before Wen Wan finished speaking, Mo Lan had already started sorting through potential candidates in her mind.

“President Wen, I’ll contact the Zhou family right away—they’re number one in Hang City’s dining scene. Their young master, Zhou Zheng, is a perfect fit, except…”

“Except what?”

“Well, he’s prone to overthinking and tends to imagine things.”

“That doesn’t matter. As long as he can protect Chen Luo, that’s all I care about. Good—reroute to the Zhou family estate. I’ll speak with him myself.”