Unexpected Second Chance at Love

Chapter 1065: Secrets in Plain Sight

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the dining room windows as Yue Ling and Lu Tian finished their lunch.

Most of the dishes Uncle Nuo had prepared were nearly empty, although a few still contained enough food for another meal.

Yue Ling looked at the remaining portions with satisfaction.

"See? I told you we could finish most of it."

Lu Tian glanced at the table.

"We?"

She smiled innocently.

"Of course. We’re practically married. What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is yours."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Does that include your leftovers?"

"Especially my leftovers."

Lu Tian chuckled and shook his head.

He rose from his chair and began collecting the empty plates while Yue Ling gathered the remaining food into containers.

The two worked together, moving comfortably around the kitchen as they cleaned the dishes and wiped down the counters.

Once everything was put away, Yue Ling dried her hands and turned toward her husband.

"Tian, do you want to watch a movie?"

Lu Tian paused.

She gestured toward the living room.

"We haven’t had a chance to relax together since coming back from City Z. We can find something to watch and spend the rest of the afternoon doing nothing."

There was a hopeful note in her voice.

Under ordinary circumstances, Lu Tian would have agreed without hesitation.

He had promised to spend the day with her, and after their emotional trip to City Z, he wanted nothing more than to enjoy a quiet afternoon at home.

Unfortunately, the folder waiting near the entrance had made that impossible.

He glanced toward the hallway before returning his attention to her.

"I have something I need to take care of in the study."

Yue Ling blinked.

"Work?"

"Something like that."

She considered his answer.

When she returned home earlier, she had noticed a dark folder resting on the entryway table.

She had assumed it contained documents from Lu Corps, perhaps something Xu Long had urgently needed him to review.

After all, Lu Tian rarely brought work home unless the matter required his personal attention.

"Alright," she said with a nod. "I’ll watch something downstairs."

Lu Tian studied her expression.

"You’re not upset?"

"Why would I be?"

She smiled.

"You’re the CEO of Lu Corps. I know you can’t ignore your responsibilities just because we’re taking a day off."

He reached out and brushed his fingers against her cheek.

"I’ll try not to take too long."

"Take your time. I’ll be right here."

Lu Tian leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Then he left the kitchen, retrieved the folder from the entryway table, and headed upstairs.

Yue Ling watched him disappear around the corner before making her way into the living room.

She settled onto the sofa, picked up the remote, and began searching for something to watch.

After browsing through several titles, she finally selected a movie.

The opening scene filled the television screen.

Yue Ling tucked a cushion behind her back and stretched her legs across the sofa.

For the first few minutes, she watched with genuine interest.

Then her thoughts wandered.

Her wedding dress.

She glanced toward the staircase.

With the wedding only days away, she still had a few details to confirm.

The dress was undergoing its final adjustments at De L’amour, and although she trusted the team handling it, she wanted to make sure everything was going smoothly.

She reached for her phone and searched for Lian Ni Shang’s number.

The call connected after several rings.

"Boss?"

"Ni Shang, are you busy?"

"Not too busy. Is something wrong?"

"Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to check on the wedding dress."

A soft laugh came through the phone.

"I had a feeling you would call about that."

Yue Ling smiled.

"Am I that predictable?"

"When it comes to this wedding? A little."

"Very funny."

Lian Ni Shang chuckled before continuing.

"Everything is going according to schedule. The final adjustments are almost complete, and the dress should be ready by tomorrow."

Yue Ling relaxed.

"That’s good."

"We’re finishing the last few details today. You can come by De L’amour tomorrow when you’re back at work and inspect everything yourself."

"Do I need to come in today?"

"No. There’s nothing that requires your attention right now."

Yue Ling nodded.

"Alright. I’ll stop by tomorrow."

"Perfect. We’ll have everything prepared."

They discussed several other matters concerning the wedding preparations, including the accessories and the arrangements for transporting the dress.

Lian Ni Shang assured her that everything was being handled.

By the time the call ended, Yue Ling was satisfied.

She placed her phone on the coffee table and settled comfortably against the cushions.

Her gaze returned to the television.

For now, there was nothing she needed to worry about.

At least, nothing concerning her wedding dress.

Upstairs, the atmosphere inside the study was considerably different.

Lu Tian sat behind his desk, his expression cold and focused.

The folder Xu Long had given him lay open beneath the desk lamp.

Several photographs were spread across the polished surface, accompanied by documents detailing Choi Li Sun’s movements. His former connections, and suspected criminal activities.

Lu Tian had already reviewed most of the information at Blackhawk.

But now that he was alone, he could examine the evidence without interruption.

He turned another page.

Qin Jun, Song Jing Li, and Kira had gathered an impressive amount of information over the years.

There were financial records, intercepted communications, surveillance reports, and details concerning several individuals who had worked with Choi Li Sun before his disappearance.

Yet the most important questions remained unanswered.

Where was he hiding?

Who had helped him enter Imperial?

And why had he chosen Lee Shin’s face?

Lu Tian’s gaze settled on the photograph of the altered Choi Li Sun.

The scar across the man’s face remained unmistakable.

His jaw tightened.

He set the photograph aside and turned toward his computer.

There was no reason to rely entirely on the information gathered by others.

After all, Lu Tian had investigated Choi Li Sun himself.

Long before Yue Ling learned the man’s name, Lu Tian had been involved in a government operation concerning his activities between Imperial and City Z.

And unlike most investigators, he had access to records that were never made available through ordinary channels.

He awakened his computer and entered a series of commands.

A black interface appeared.

Lines of encrypted data filled the screen as his fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard.

He accessed an archived database connected to the original investigation, then cross-referenced the information against several restricted records.

His expression grew increasingly serious.

Most of the files had been altered or erased.

Some transactions had been routed through shell companies that no longer existed.

Others were buried beneath layers of false identities.

Choi Li Sun had been meticulous.

But meticulous did not mean flawless.

Lu Tian narrowed his eyes.

He changed his search parameters, tracing the movement of funds and transportation records rather than searching directly for Choi Li Sun.

If the man had successfully erased his identity, then the next best option was to find the people who had helped him disappear.

Several minutes passed.

The only sound in the study came from the quiet tapping of the keyboard.

Then a record appeared.

Lu Tian stopped typing.

His gaze moved across the screen.

It was an old transportation entry, one that had been concealed beneath a series of unrelated commercial transactions.

The record indicated that someone had arranged Choi Li Sun’s passage into Imperial.

There was no photograph.

No verified address.

No identification number.

Only a name.

Hua.

Lu Tian stared at the screen.

His brows drew together.

The name was too vague to establish an identity.

It could have been a surname, a given name, or an alias.

Without additional information, there was no way to determine whether the person was male or female.

But the timing was significant.

According to the record, Hua had assisted Choi Li Sun in entering Imperial during the period when the man was believed to have disappeared.

Lu Tian leaned forward and examined the transaction history.

The entry had been carefully disguised.

Whoever arranged it had taken precautions to prevent the transportation route from being connected to Choi Li Sun.

Yet one detail had survived.

The name.

Lu Tian leaned back in his chair.

A thought crossed his mind.

Ji Chu Hua.

His eyes narrowed.

Xu Long had reported that Ji Chu Hua had been seen at Glory with Choi Li Sun.

The woman was already suspected of cooperating with Hung Woo during Ji Jingxu’s kidnapping.

She had repeatedly demonstrated her willingness to betray her own family when it suited her interests.

And now her name shared a connection, however uncertain, with the person who had helped Choi Li Sun enter Imperial.

Lu Tian did not mistake the similarity for proof.

There were countless people who could have used the name Hua.

But he had no intention of dismissing it.

Especially when Ji Chu Hua was already connected to the man he was investigating.

He saved the record and opened another file.

His gaze moved over the information before he slowly stopped.

Grandfather Ji.

The old man had also been searching for Choi Li Sun.

And unlike Alpha Team, Grandfather Ji’s investigation had begun long before the recent events involving Red Militant.

Lu Tian’s expression darkened.

Choi Li Sun was not merely connected to Lee Shin’s death.

He was also implicated in the deaths of Yue Ling’s parents and her paternal grandfather.

For years, Yue Ling had believed those deaths were tragic accidents.

But Grandfather Ji had uncovered enough information to suspect otherwise.

The old man had been carrying that knowledge while quietly searching for the person responsible.

Lu Tian looked toward the other side of the study.

Across from his desk stood Yue Ling’s.

It was neatly arranged, with several documents stacked beside her computer and a few personal items resting near the edge.

His gaze lingered there.

If anyone deserved to know the truth, it was his wife.

Her parents.

Her grandfather.

Lee Shin.

The people she had lost were connected to the same man.

Yet she remained unaware of how deeply Choi Li Sun had interfered with her life.

Lu Tian slowly exhaled.

He knew Yue Ling would eventually learn everything.

But he could not tell her about Lee Shin’s murder without also considering what Grandfather Ji knew about her family.

If the two investigations were connected, revealing only part of the truth might create more questions than answers.

And if Ji Chu Hua had helped Choi Li Sun enter Imperial, then the danger was closer to the Ji family than they had realized.

His fingers tapped against the desk.

Once.

Twice.

Then he made his decision.

He reached for his phone.

The call connected after two rings.

"Jiangyu speaking."

Lu Tian leaned back in his chair.

"Are you filled in?"

There was a brief silence.

Then Jiangyu’s voice became noticeably more serious.

"Yes, Boss. Xu Long informed us. Wolf Team is preparing to head out."

Lu Tian nodded faintly.

As expected, Xu Long had wasted no time.

Liu Shan and the Alpha Team wanted to conduct their investigation quietly, but Lu Tian saw no reason to leave them handling every lead alone.

The situation had become too complicated.

Choi Li Sun had connections extending beyond Red Militant, and they still had no clear understanding of his intentions.

More eyes meant more opportunities to uncover something useful.

And if danger arose, there would be more people available to respond.

"Coordinate with Xu Long," Lu Tian instructed. "I want every lead followed without drawing unnecessary attention."

"Understood."

"Keep the investigation discreet. No one approaches Choi Li Sun without reporting his location first."

"Yes, Boss."

Lu Tian’s gaze shifted toward the closed study door.

He could faintly hear the sound of the television downstairs.

Yue Ling was still in the living room.

Unaware of the conversation taking place above her.

"I need a team at the residence while I step out."

Jiangyu did not question the order.

"Roger, Boss. I’ll arrange it immediately."

"Yiqing, Weilong, and Shaofeng. Have them accompany you."

"Understood."

"Stay out of sight."

"Yes, Boss."

The call ended.

Lu Tian lowered the phone but did not put it away.

He scrolled through his contacts until he found another number.

For a moment, his thumb hovered over the screen.

Then he pressed it.

The call rang several times before someone answered.

"Lu boy?"

Grandfather Ji’s familiar voice came through the speaker.

"Is everything alright?"

Lu Tian closed his eyes briefly and drew a slow breath.

When he opened them again, the hesitation in his expression was gone.

"Are you home?"

"Not yet. About 15 minutes."

"I’m heading over there."

There was a pause.

The old man’s voice grew concerned.

"Did something happen? Is Ah Ling alright?"

Lu Tian steadied his breathing.

"She’s fine."

A quiet sigh of relief came from the other end.

"Then what is it?"

Lu Tian glanced at the documents spread across his desk.

"I need to speak to you about him."

Silence followed.

Grandfather Ji did not ask who he meant.

There was only one man whose name Lu Tian would avoid mentioning over an unsecured phone call.

After a long moment, the old man spoke.

"Choi Li Sun?"

"Yes."

The silence deepened.

Then Grandfather Ji’s voice became solemn.

"Have you found something?"

"Enough that we need to talk."

Another pause.

"Does Ah Ling know?"

"Not yet."

Grandfather Ji exhaled slowly.

"Alright."

His voice carried a heaviness that had not been there earlier.

"I’ll be waiting."

Lu Tian nodded.

"I’ll be there soon."

He ended the call.

For several seconds, he remained seated, staring at the phone in his hand.

Then he placed it on the desk and gathered the documents.

He returned the photographs and reports to the folder, including the newly discovered record bearing the name Hua.

Once everything was secured, he stood and headed toward the door.

Downstairs, Yue Ling was comfortably settled on the sofa.

The movie had reached an entertaining scene, and she was smiling when the sound of footsteps drew her attention.

She looked toward the staircase.

Lu Tian was descending with a folder in his hand.

Her smile faded slightly when she noticed his expression.

Although he appeared composed, there was a darkness in his eyes that had not been there during lunch.

"Tian?"

He looked toward her.

"Is everything alright?"

Lu Tian’s expression softened the moment their eyes met.

He walked toward the sofa.

"Everything’s fine."

Yue Ling studied him.

"Then why do you look so serious?"

He gave her a faint smile.

"Something came up."

She glanced at the folder.

"Work?"

"Something I need to handle personally."

He stopped in front of her.

"I have to step out again."

Yue Ling blinked.

Then her brows drew together.

"Again?"

Lu Tian nodded.

She leaned back against the sofa and sighed.

"I thought we were going to stay in together today."

"I know."

"If I’d known you were going to be this busy, I would’ve gone to work."

There was no real anger in her voice, only mild disappointment.

Lu Tian felt a pang of guilt.

He had promised to spend the day with her.

And he wanted to.

More than anything, he wanted to put the folder away, sit beside her, and forget about the dangers waiting outside their home.

But he could not ignore what he had discovered.

Not when the man responsible for so much of Yue Ling’s suffering was moving freely through Imperial.

Lu Tian crouched in front of her.

Yue Ling looked down at him.

He reached up and gently touched her cheek.

"Stay home for now."

She arched an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because I’d feel better knowing you’re here."

Yue Ling tilted her head.

"Mr. Lu, are you trying to put me under house arrest?"

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Would you let me?"

"Absolutely not."

He chuckled.

"Then consider it a request."

She studied him for a moment.

"What if I need to step out for work?"

"Then call and let me know."

Yue Ling leaned into his palm.

"Fine."

Lu Tian’s gaze softened.

But beneath that tenderness, an emotion he could not quite suppress flickered through his eyes.

Fear.

Not for himself.

For her.

He had never been comfortable with the idea of leaving Yue Ling unprotected.

Yet he also knew she would not appreciate discovering that he had stationed guards around her without explanation.

He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I’ll try not to be long."

Yue Ling nodded.

"Alright. Just don’t overwork yourself."

"I won’t."

She smiled.

"And drive carefully."

Lu Tian’s heart tightened.

Even now, she was worried about him.

He brushed his thumb gently across her cheek before standing.

Yue Ling leaned back against the sofa and returned her attention to the movie.

Lu Tian watched her for another moment.

The familiar sight should have reassured him.

Instead, it made the guilt in his chest heavier.

She trusted him.

And he was leaving her with another incomplete explanation.

His hand tightened around the folder.

Then he turned away.

He retrieved his coat from the entryway, slipped it on, and headed toward the front door.

Before stepping outside, he looked back.

Yue Ling was still watching the television.

He wanted to say something.

Perhaps tell her that he loved her.

Perhaps warn her to be careful.

But he had already said enough to make her suspicious.

So he simply opened the door and stepped outside.

The cold afternoon air greeted Lu Tian as he walked toward his Maserati.

His expression changed almost immediately.

The tenderness he had shown Yue Ling disappeared, replaced by the cold indifference familiar to those who worked beneath him.

He paused near the driveway.

His dark eyes swept across the property.

The landscaped grounds appeared peaceful.

Tall trees bordered the residence, while neatly trimmed hedges lined the pathways leading toward the garden.

To an ordinary observer, nothing seemed unusual.

But Lu Tian knew where to look.

His gaze moved toward several specific locations.

Near the western trees.

Beside the garden wall.

Beyond the hedges.

And among the bushes close to the side of the house.

Four figures were already in position.

Jiangyu.

Yiqing.

Weilong.

And Shaofeng.

The men had arrived discreetly and taken up positions around the residence.

Lu Tian recognized each location without needing to see them clearly.

He gave the faintest nod.

A silent acknowledgment.

Then he opened the driver’s door and placed the folder on the passenger seat.

He settled behind the wheel and started the engine.

A moment later, the Maserati rolled down the driveway and passed through the gates.

Lu Tian was heading toward Ji Mansion.

And the conversation awaiting him there was one he had no intention of delaying.