Chapter 24: May I?

Xiang Zhihua sat motionless, the mobile phone held in his hand, silent. His gaze wandered toward the shimmering skyscrapers and streetlights outside the car window, unfocused, as if lost in thought.

"Forget it. Since you aren't prepared yet, I won't force you, Grandfather."

Receiving no reply from the other end, Old Master Xiang paused for a moment, as if coming to a realization. He chuckled and said, "However, I heard that at the jewelry banquet tonight, there was a young girl who claimed to be your person. Have you had a change of heart?"

Xiang Zhihua glanced toward Lu Yao. "Since when did you start indulging in gossip, Grandfather?"

Watching him sit there with such lazy, indifferent poise, Lu Yao felt he resembled a king. Every word, even every syllable, was imbued with the authority and oppressive presence of someone in a position of power. It was fortunate that the person on the other end of the line was Old Master Xiang; anyone else would likely have been unable to keep up with his pace.

"Bang!"

"Young Master Xiang, watch out! We’re being followed."

Cheng Gang’s voice suddenly erupted from the passenger seat. Lu Yao’s thoughts were pulled back to reality. As she looked up, she saw four or five black sedans swerving out from behind them. These cars kept their high beams flashing incessantly at them, then suddenly accelerated, charging toward their vehicle.

Lu Yao’s heart leaped to her throat; she nearly screamed aloud.

"Hold on tight."

Cheng Gang gave a quick command, then leaped to trade places with the driver, slamming on the accelerator and surging forward.

"Bang, crash..."

The sedans that had been barreling toward them collided, piling up into a heap. Lu Yao’s face turned deathly pale. This was even more terrifying than her own rebirth.

Xiang Zhihua, by contrast, remained remarkably calm, as if he were long accustomed to such attacks.

"Send someone to investigate what happened."

He wanted to know who had the audacity to risk their life and play for keeps with him. Xiang Zhihua’s face was dark.

Lu Yao clutched the door handle, unable to let go. She didn't want to be this way, but she was timid, and the shock had left her entire spine chilled. The impact of the event was clearly profound.

Half an hour later, the car finally arrived safely at the entrance of the Jintong Villa, where Xiang Zhihua resided. Cheng Gang’s driving skills were legendary—taking on five cars at once with a flair that felt almost supernatural. Unfortunately, Lu Yao couldn't handle such turbulence; as soon as the car stopped, she scrambled out and vomited by the flowerbed, overcome by motion sickness.

Xiang Zhihua gave her only a fleeting glance before being wheeled inside by a housekeeper. A few minutes later, when Lu Yao finished vomiting and looked up, the car and the people were gone. Just as she stood there, anxiously wondering what to do, the appearance of Cheng Gang brought a flicker of hope to her eyes.

"Has Young Master Xiang gone inside?"

Before Cheng Gang could speak, Lu Yao asked the question first.

Cheng Gang nodded. "Young Master is waiting for you in his room."

Lu Yao froze.

Waiting for her? Was he intending to settle the score?

"Assistant Cheng, did the Young Master say how he plans to deal with me?" she asked as they walked. She couldn't gauge his attitude, which only added to her panic.

Cheng Gang smiled faintly. "Don't be nervous, Miss Lu. Young Master is actually quite easy to get along with, very kind. He shouldn't do anything to you."

Cheng Gang was speaking the truth. If Xiang Zhihua had really wanted to do something to her, he would have exposed her the moment she lied at the banquet, rather than bringing her to his villa now.

But to Lu Yao, his words sounded like a farce. Easy to get along with? Kind? That might fool people outside the Hong Kong circle, but her? No chance.

With a heart full of trepidation, she followed Cheng Gang to the door of Xiang Zhihua’s bedroom.

"Go on in," Cheng Gang said, opening the door for her.

Lu Yao nodded politely at him and braced herself to step inside.

A man was sitting before the floor-to-ceiling window. Xiang Zhihua sat with his back to her, gazing out into the distance. His silhouette was broad and rigid, yet it looked profoundly cold and lonely. His long, fair fingers tapped rhythmically against the arm of his wheelchair. In the silent, cavernous room, the sound was distinct, as if it were tapping against her very heart.

Lu Yao’s steady heartbeat began to race.

"Come here."

As she approached, the man turned his head slightly. The line of his jaw, sharp and refined, caught the light and sharpened in her vision.

Xiang Zhihua possessed a face of noble elegance—a fact she had realized the moment she saw him at the airport. Back then, haunted by the rumors of her past life, she hadn't dared to look closely. Now, she realized his profile was flawless. With a sharp, aquiline nose and skin like white jade, he looked like a nobleman stepped straight out of a painting.

Gentle and refined.

"Well?"

Seeing her stand there, lost in thought, a flicker of displeasure crossed his brow. In twenty-nine years, no one had ever dared to lose focus or ignore his words in his presence. Was this woman trying some new trick?

His cold gaze snapped Lu Yao back to reality.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, embarrassed. She quickly composed herself and walked toward him.

Xiang Zhihua sat in his wheelchair, dressed in a silver-grey Zhongshan suit, looking elegant and sophisticated. His right hand turned a string of black prayer beads, while his legs were covered by a grey blanket. He was precise and refined. His black hair was meticulously groomed, revealing a smooth, fair, and full forehead. He had a high nose and "peach blossom" eyes. If his left eye weren't covered by a black patch, one could only imagine how many would be left in awe of his appearance.

As she drew closer, she caught the scent of nicotine on him—neither pleasant nor unpleasant. It must have been from the cigarette he had finished before she entered.

"You want to be my person?"

Xiang Zhihua’s probing gaze landed on her face, missing no sign of fear, cowardice, or aversion.

Where had this woman found the gall to claim she was his in front of so many people? Wasn't she afraid he might be ruthless with her? Or was this just her way of trying to attract his attention?

After all, everyone in the Hong Kong circle knew his situation: a cripple with broken legs and a blinded eye. Everyone else avoided him like a plague; was she truly not afraid that he might devour her?

Lu Yao’s face turned crimson.

"Can... can I?"

Since it had come to this, there was no point in feigning shyness or fear. Having come this far, she had no retreat. Her only hope for survival in Hong Kong was to rely on Xiang Zhihua. If she were to return to the Xu family, nothing awaited her but a bloodbath.