Unexpected Second Chance at Love



After dinner, Yue Ling and Lu Tian showered and returned to the study. While Lu Tian continued his search throughout Imperial, Yue Ling worked on her sketches.

The setup of their desks allowed them to see one another at a glance. However, the couple didn't speak to one another as their silent presence in the same room was enough.

Only the clicking of the keyboard under Lu Tian's hand sounded in the room.

Lu Tian stops his search and looks away from the monitor. His eyes quickly landed on his beautiful wife.

She sat with her knees up and feet on the chair. Her head was slightly down, allowing her hair to escape down her right shoulder. He would have thought she had fallen asleep if not for the movement of her hand scribbling in her sketchbook.

She would yawn and rub her eyes every few seconds but tried to stay awake.

One corner of his mouth slightly raises into a side smile. The sight of her softens his heart, putting away any frustration in his head.

He leans back against the chair and gazes at her with eyes filled with love and adoration.

Yue Ling focused her attention on her designs but sensing a pair of eyes on her, she looked up from her sketchbook.

Her bluish-green eyes meet Lu Tian's dark ones, and she sees he is no longer working. She smiles at him and slightly lowers her knees.

"Are you done?"

Her tired angelic voice raised the other corners of his mouth, and he shook his head.

"There's still a lot I need to do. I just needed a break to recharge."

Lu Tian's words made Yue Ling blush for an unknown reason. She turns her head away but only returns her eyes to him.

It was as if he was telling her that by looking at her, she was enough to charge him.

She cleared her throat, put her feet on the floor, and held the sketchbook on her lap. Her posture leans toward her desk, and she smiles.

"Are you recharged now?"

Lu Tian pursed his lips with a pondering expression. After thinking enough, he sighs and shakes his head.

"I'm not fully recharged."

Yue Ling tilts her head in confusion. She stares at him, then thinking he might need something to drink, she gets up from the chair.

"I'll go make some tea for you."

However, the second her last word fell, Lu Tian shook his head again and gestured for her to go to him.

She doesn't think much about it and walks over to his side of the desk. She parted her lips to ask what it was, but he pulled her by the hand before she had time to react.

A small yelp escaped her lips, and he placed her on his lap.

His right arm supported her back while his left wrapped over her thighs, gently hugging her closer. Once he was sure she was comfortable, he rested his head on her chest.

"I don't need tea. This is enough."

Yue Ling was speechless while the beating of her heart seemed to intensify. She doesn't push him away or try to get up. Instead, she tilts her head to lean against his head as if to transfer all her love to him.

She subconsciously glances at his computer monitor, and a name catches her attention. She moves her head and stares at the name.

"Choi Li Sun?"

Hearing the name, Lu Tian's eyes narrow before straightening his head. He turns a little to the right to look at his wife.

"Do you know him?"

Yue Ling stares at the name for a long second, then shakes her head.

"I don't know him, but I've heard that name before."

And this was the truth. She had heard the name before but couldn't remember when or who.

She bit her lower lip with a frown as if she was trying to remember something. However, unable to do so, she looks at the man holding her.

"Is this person the reason why you are working from home?"

From what she remembers, Lu Tian wasn't an ordinary businessman. He was also involved in dangerous tasks around the underworld.

He does all his business at his company and only works from home when working on work outside of business.

Lu Tian didn't know why, but he felt slightly disappointed with her answer.

The moment he started investigating this other person looking for Choi Li Sun, a part of him hoped it was not his wife. Yet another aspect of him hoped it was her.

With her knowledge of the underworld, tracking down Choi Li Sun would be a lot easier.

However, seeing her expression towards the name, he could conclude that she did not know the man.

He looks away from his wife, and his arms wrapped around her tightens gently.

"In all the cases I've worked since I took over Lu Corps, I've never failed to capture a suspect. However, this case is the only one different."

Yue Ling was surprised to hear this. She looks at the monitor and then back at him. Her silence was enough to let him know that she was listening.

"This case was also the very first case I was on."

Lu Tian spoke in a calm tone, but Yue Ling knew there was a trace of guilt and disappointment behind his voice.

"I was immature at the time, thinking I could do anything as long as I put my mind to it."

He breathes a chuckle filled with sarcasm, and his words continue.

"But it was this case that made me realize all my mistakes. Because of this case, I could always stay two steps ahead. However, for some reason, I am always one step behind when it involves this case."

He thinks about his past self at a young age and feels stupid for thinking he is more competent.

"If I had played my cards carefully, I would have captured him, and many would have been saved."

His arms around his wife loosen, and he leans back against the chair.

"Even now, I feel like I am still one step behind."

He is supposed to be one of the top hackers in the world, but no matter what he did, he couldn't find any traces of Choi Li Sun. Even worse, he couldn't find anything substantial about the anonymous person looking for Choi Li Sun.

It was as if he was entering one black hole after another.

Yue Ling felt compassion hearing the deep guilt in his voice. Only now could she see how much this case had taken a toll on him.

He may be able to fool others, but not her because she knows exactly how he feels.

The feeling of being depended on by many but only to fail them. Even if it were only once, it would never disappear, always eating one alive on the inside.

It was like a repeated nightmare in the dark where a glimpse of light could never reach.

She sighs inside and looks down at his hand on her lap. She slowly reaches to hold his hand with both her hands.

"Don't feel so down."

She turns her head to look at him and gives him a reassuring smile. She was glad to know that he could share his feelings with her.

"Today, you may be one step behind, but tomorrow, you will be one step ahead."

Her right hand held onto his hand as her left hand rose to caress his cheek.

"I know you will catch him."

Lu Tian took in the sight of his wife. He was surprised at himself for being able to express such feelings aloud, but knowing that the person by his side was her, he was happy to do so.

He gently squeezes her hand before bringing it up to his lip.

"Since my wife has faith in me, I must not disappoint her."

Yue Ling laughed and was relieved to see his guilty feeling disappear.

Thinking about something, she puts her left elbow on his shoulder and rests her chin in her palm.

"I can help you if you need me to. My resources might be of help in your case."

Lu Tian was happy to hear her offer to help. However, he couldn't trouble her.

"I'll keep that in mind."

His wife already has a lot going on in her hands. If he asked her for help, he would be considered an incompetent husband.

As his thoughts began to drift, the freshness of her scent, coated with a hint of honey, entered his nostrils, suddenly sending a sensation through his body.

He gulps with difficulty, and his hands tighten on her, but not so much that it will cause her harm.

'Lu Tian, remain calm. This is not the time to fulfill your need. Your wife is tired from work and needs to relax. Don't be the devil and deprive her of any rest.'

He curses at himself inside, unaware that Yue Ling felt the sudden tightness of his grip on her. She looked at him but couldn't due to his head now pressed against her shoulder.

"Tian?"

Hearing her call his name, Lu Tian inhales deeply to calm the sensation, trying to run ablaze below his abdomen.

"Mm."

He answers with a low grunt, almost like his throat is dried. This made Yue Ling crease her brows and push herself away from him.

"Are you okay?"

Lu Tian nods and looks up at his wife once he is in a steady state of mind.

"I'm okay now. Let's go to bed."

Without waiting for Yue Ling to respond, he picks her up in his arms with ease as he stands up from the chair and walks out of the study room.