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Chapter 20: Every Day Is a Battlefield

In Lin Keying’s mind, her fiancé was always a cold and distant figure. Most of the time, he seemed indifferent, detached, and emotionally unreadable.

Except when they kissed—then he became a different person.

So forceful and intense, like a blade that pierced sharply, direct and impossible to resist.

This was only their third kiss, but Lin Keying could already feel subtle changes in him. Gone was the clumsiness and inexperience of the first two times.

It left her mind hazy, her body instinctively clutching his suit.

Her pale, slender fingers gripped the dark fabric tightly, wrinkling it. The faint sounds of lips and saliva exchanging filled the air—hot and intimate.

But once the kiss ended, her fiancé seemed to instantly return to his usual cold demeanor, leaving Lin Keying dazed and unsure.

Just what kind of person is he, really?

His voice was slightly hoarse, as if worn down by sand, brushing against the skin of her ear like static:
“Why do you keep bringing up the past? Those things aren’t worth mentioning and should’ve been forgotten. All you need to remember is…”

His broad palm rested against her waist. Their noses brushed, breathing mingled—
“Remember who’s holding you and kissing you right now… okay?”

The long, heated kiss left her dizzy. A flush bloomed across Lin Keying’s brows and cheeks, her eyes moist with emotion.

As if bewitched by him, her lashes trembled slightly, as if in response.

…

That night, in a bathtub filled with warm water, steam gently curled into the air. The heat brought a rosy glow to Lin Keying’s plain face. Bubbles floated on the clear water, veiling the sensuality within.

Her delicate shoulders and neck were exposed to the air. The bath soothed her body and mind, yet she lay sprawled against the edge of the tub, chin resting on her arm, idly stirring the water.

The sound of splashing water echoed softly. Lin Keying couldn’t help but wonder why her fiancé always seemed so unpredictable, with a subtle yet unsettling air of mystery about him.

++++

Aside from her enigmatic fiancé, Lin Keying’s life was otherwise carefree and glamorous. She occasionally checked her stocks, dined her way through all of Harbor City’s delicacies, took Tingting shopping, bought hair accessories for the girl, and even made sure to oversee the villa’s renovation progress.

On Wednesday, she brought Tingting and Ah Qiang—two high schoolers—along to meet with Uncle Da and Aunt Feng.

The three young ones joined the two elders to go fishing by the riverside. As a beginner, Lin Keying managed to catch a crucian carp, while she and the other two “unlucky” kids worked together to reel in another.

At dinnertime, Aunt Feng took charge of the kitchen and braised the two big wild carp Uncle Da had caught.

The fish meat was tender and fresh. The braised sauce seeped deep into every fiber of the fish, giving off a rich aroma. The five of them polished off every bite.

Seeing that Lin Keying managed to catch fish on her first try, Uncle Da was impressed—she was clearly better than the two kids—and even considered taking her on as a fishing apprentice.

“Uncle Da,” she laughed, “if I could sit here and fish every day, that would mean the sun’s rising in the west! You keep fishing—we’ll just come and eat!”

Uncle Da chuckled and told his wife, “Look at this girl—so clever and crafty, just like Huang Rong.”

Aunt Feng, an avid fan of Jin Yong novels, immediately agreed: “She really is.”

Lin Keying took it as a compliment, happily eating and helping out, and in the end, she brought two smaller crucian carp back home.

Back at the Mid-Levels villa, Aunt Hua cleaned and prepared the fish and made fish soup.

The soup came out snow-white and fragrant, delicate in taste and texture. Lin Keying drank two bowls. Her fiancé hadn’t come for dinner again today, and she suddenly recalled that he had seemed particularly busy with work lately. It had been quite a while since they last ate together.

At that moment, Cheng Wanting was actually supposed to return to the Mid-Levels villa for dinner. But that afternoon, he was unexpectedly summoned to the Cheng family’s Deep Water Bay estate.

The reason? His father, Cheng Guanjie, was said to be feeling unwell.

But when he arrived, Cheng Guanjie looked anything but sick. Instead, he was full of vigor, loudly criticizing his son for refusing a marriage alliance with Director Li’s daughter from HSBC.

“If you think you can make decisions in my place, you’re gravely mistaken,” Cheng Wanting replied calmly. He now stood a head taller than his father, and though his tone was mild, his presence was heavy and imposing—matching Cheng Guanjie’s decades of experience forged in blood and fire.

“You don’t like the daughter of HSBC’s Director Li? Fine, I won’t push you.” Now that Cheng Guanjie no longer held full control and relied on his status as Wanting’s father, he had to back down a step. With his second wife, Fu Yuehong, patting his back to calm him, he finally said, “This time, your aunt has found a new match for you. You should meet her.”

Fu Yuehong added smoothly, “Wanting, this girl is from the Chen family—related to Songxian’s great-aunt. She’s well-mannered and pretty. While her background isn’t as strong as Li Siqi’s, she’s sweet-tempered and sure to be obedient to you.”

“If she’s that great, then let Jiajun meet her.” Wanting didn’t want to stay any longer. He turned and walked away. “I’ll say this one last time—none of you have the right to interfere in my life.”

Under Wanting’s leadership, the Cheng family’s shipbuilding business had flourished. Their expansion overseas placed the Chengs among Harbor City’s top ten wealthy families. They were also now aggressively entering the department store, hotel, and real estate industries.

Cheng Guanjie watched his eldest son walk away and could only sigh in frustration. He smashed his teacup in anger!

---

“Uncle! What made you so angry?”
Chen Songxian, who had come to visit the Cheng family villa, walked in just in time to see his uncle red-faced and smashing things. “Calm down, okay?”

Cheng Guanjie’s late wife, Jiang Peishan, was Songxian’s mother’s sister. The two families were very close.

Not wanting to lose face in front of younger relatives, Cheng Guanjie forced himself to calm down. “Songxian, how was your trip to Africa? I heard your father wanted you to gain some experience.”

Songxian internally grumbled at his cousin. It was clearly Wanting who suggested the trip, not his dad.

But he didn’t dare voice it. He could only swallow his complaints. “Uncle, Africa was actually great. Beautiful mountains and rivers, outstanding people…”

Cheng Min, who had come downstairs after studying, overheard and couldn’t help but laugh: “Cousin Songxian, Africa’s not quite how you’re describing it.”

The second son of the family, Cheng Zhihao, added with a grin, “Amin, your cousin Songxian is never serious. Don’t believe a word he says.”

“Not true, not true,” Songxian shook his head dramatically, still determined to spin his tale. “Africa is amazing! I gained a lot of valuable experience. Look, these are souvenirs I brought back—Uncle, Second Aunt, Third Aunt, Amin, Zhihao… don’t be shy!”

Cheng Min, always curious about novelty, fiddled with a wooden African carving her cousin had given her. It was dark, glossy, and quite unique.

“Amin, has your brother been around lately? I feel like he’s so busy I haven’t seen him in ages.”
Songxian had stayed at the Cheng villa for a while but hadn’t caught a glimpse of his cousin. Even the few times he called the Huanyu Group, he was intercepted by Secretary Yang, who always politely declined his requests to meet and catch up.

He was starting to worry—
Did I offend my cousin somehow? Is that why I got exiled to Africa?!

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Cheng Min was the cousin’s biological younger sister. Chen Songxian was just hoping to use her as a way in to gather information.

But Cheng Min never understood anything about her brother’s company. She vaguely replied, “He’s probably busy. Cousin Songxian, if it’s nothing urgent, don’t bother my brother. He hardly has any time to rest.”

Chen Songxian: “…”

Who was she trying to guard against!

In the end, Chen Songxian got the information from the Cheng family’s second son, Cheng Zhihao. The cousin had rejected a proposed marriage alliance with the daughter of the HSBC board director. That very afternoon, he had also refused a match arranged by his aunt.

Recently, he had hardly been staying in Deep Water Bay…

Whoa—Chen Songxian couldn’t help but marvel. His cousin was the youngest among the wealthy elites of Hong Kong, handsome and rich, yet didn’t let a single leaf touch him! What kind of woman could ever move his heart? There probably wasn’t such a person in the world!

—

Cheng Wanting cast aside all the chaos in his household and, at 8 PM, was still seated on the 32nd floor of the Huanyu Group building, facing the twinkling stars and overlooking the lights of the city.

Yang Minghui had given his report in the afternoon. There was still no trace of Guo Changda. The issue with the shares in Kowloon Wharf had reached a stalemate.

If they couldn’t locate Guo Changda—who held a neutral position—and purchase the shares from him within three days, Cheng Wanting would have no advantage at next week’s Kowloon Wharf shareholders’ meeting.

The search continued, and Cheng Wanting had already prepared a second and third contingency plan. He hoped to win against the odds, though the chances were slimmer and the risks more perilous.

Wealth is sought in danger—he had known that truth since childhood.

As the one in charge of Huanyu Group for years, this wasn’t his first time navigating treacherous waters. He was aware of the risks, but the more intense the confrontation and pressure, the more alert he became. A strange exhilaration sparked in his mind.

As the lights of Huanyu Group’s building dimmed, he finally wrapped up work. The rush of excitement and fatigue hit him simultaneously—and he realized he still hadn’t received a phone call these past few days.

The seemingly obedient little cat didn’t seem to have taken his words seriously.

At 9:30 PM, the phone in Villa No. 5 on Mid-Levels rang in the living room. Lin Keying, who had been reading gossip magazines, was startled by the sudden ringing.

At this hour, who else would call… it had to be her fiancé!

Lin Keying’s mind worked quickly. She hadn’t seen her fiancé for several days, and now came this call. She suddenly recalled what he had said that night when he’d drunkenly held and kissed her:

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“This better not happen again.”

On guard as if facing an enemy, Lin Keying put down her magazine and picked up the phone, seizing the upper hand:

“Big Young Master!”

“You finally decided to call back?”

“You’ve been gone for days without even a phone call. I thought you’d forgotten about me.”

Whatever scolding words Cheng Wanting had planned were blocked by the woman’s tirade on the other end. For a moment, he was speechless. Then the corners of his lips curled into a slow smile, and his heart felt oddly full. He chuckled softly and said:

“Mhm, it’s my fault then. I’ll pick you up from the dessert shop tomorrow evening.”

Lin Keying: “…?”

Wait, how did the conversation take this turn?

—

The next day, the sunset gradually painted the sky in strokes of color.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Spur, black with silver trim, was parked quietly by the roadside.

Lin Keying saw the familiar vehicle. The black-tinted glass revealed nothing of the interior.

She walked up and knocked on the window. When it rolled down, revealing the handsome profile inside, she said:

“Wanting, wait for me a few minutes. I asked Sister He to pack ten portions of dessert to bring back for Aunt Hua and the others.”

It was perfect that he came to pick her up—so convenient!

Cheng Wanting didn’t mind being treated like a dessert delivery driver. He nodded and waited in the car.

Yang Minghui was about to get off work and came over to give his report: “Young Master, Guo Changda is elusive. I’ve searched several of his residences, but he wasn’t there. It’s said he and his wife keep a low profile—so plain that you wouldn’t recognize them even if they were standing on the street. Finding him and purchasing his shares won’t be easy.”

Given the potential value of Kowloon Wharf—worth billions—Cheng Wanting was determined to win. His eyes were resolute:

“Keep searching. No matter how big Hong Kong is, it’s not impossible to find one man. Focus on places tied to his interests—fishing, scavenging, or areas he frequented before he made his fortune.”

“Yes, sir.” Yang Minghui was about to leave but suddenly remembered something and quickly reported, “One more thing, Young Master. Young Master Chen…”

The moment those three words were spoken, he felt a sharp gaze pierce through him, making his back go rigid like he was facing an enemy.

“Continue.” Cheng Wanting’s voice was stern.

“Young Master Chen has tried multiple times to see you since returning from Africa, but I’ve made excuses to refuse him each time. But yesterday, he called a press conference with major media outlets in Hong Kong, trying to… well, showcase his heroic deeds and efforts to expand the Chen family’s fashion business in Africa.”

“Don’t let it be published. No TV, nothing. Pull it all,” Cheng Wanting commanded casually as he slowly cracked his knuckles. “I told you, his name must not appear anywhere Miss Lin could see it.”

Yang Minghui heard the cold finality in his tone and responded quickly, internally mourning for Young Master Chen.

That hairstyle, the tailored suit, the rehearsed speech—all for nothing.

—

Lin Keying carried the ten portions of dessert to the car and casually asked her fiancé for help: “Big Young Master, come on, come on, there’s one for you too~ Help me carry these. Aunt Hua and the others have been craving our shop’s desserts. It’s perfect that you came to pick me up!”

The driver’s eyelid twitched.

The rule for years had been that no one was allowed to bring food into the car—let alone ten servings of dessert!

Yet, with one word from Miss Lin, the man in the rearview mirror actually accepted them…

The driver dared not glance again and quietly started the car.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Spur slowly pulled into Villa No. 5 in Mid-Levels. Lin Keying handed the desserts to Aunt Hua and Uncle Zhong at the door. Her slim blue gown brushed against the car as her beige heels touched the ground. She stepped out and walked with her fiancé toward the living room.

But Aunt Hua quickly stopped them and reported:

“Young Master, Young Master Chen is here. He’s waiting in the living room to thank you for helping him solve a major problem.”

Cheng Wanting paused in his steps. Lin Keying, noticing his sudden halt and the chill in his expression, also stopped and looked serious, almost like he was emitting a murderous aura.

She couldn’t help asking:

“Big Young Master, who is this Young Master Chen? What big favor did you help him with?”

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