Unexpected Second Chance at Love

Chapter 1066: Foolish to waste the opportunity

Inside the house, Yue Ling continued watching the movie.

At least, that was what she appeared to be doing.

Her eyes remained on the television, but her attention was focused elsewhere.

She listened carefully.

First came the faint sound of the front door closing.

Then the distant rumble of the Maserati’s engine.

She waited.

A few seconds passed.

The sound gradually faded as the vehicle moved farther down the driveway.

Then came the soft mechanical hum of the gates opening and closing.

Yue Ling’s eyes brightened.

’He’s gone.’

She immediately sat upright.

The cushion beside her slid onto the floor as she sprang from the sofa.

Finally.

She had been trying to think of a way to begin her plan without Lu Tian discovering what she was doing.

As much as she loved her husband, the man had an unfortunate habit of appearing whenever she wanted to keep something secret.

And with his sharp observation skills, hiding anything from him was no easy task.

But now he had stepped out again.

She would be foolish to waste the opportunity.

Yue Ling switched off the television and hurried toward the guest room.

Once inside, she went straight to the closet. She opened the door and retrieved the shopping bags she had hidden earlier.

One by one, she carefully removed their contents and arranged them on the floor.

She crouched to examine everything then she shifted a few items around.

After several minutes, she stood and took a step back.

Her bluish-green eyes moved over the arrangement.

A satisfied smile spread across her face.

"Perfect."

She clasped her hands together.

Everything was coming together exactly as she had imagined.

There was still plenty to do, but she had enough time to get started.

She glanced toward the door.

Then she remembered something.

"Oh, right."

She had left one of the larger items in her car.

Yue Ling quickly stepped out of the guest room and made her way toward the entrance.

She grabbed her car keys, slipped on her shoes, and headed outside.

The afternoon air was cool, but she barely noticed.

Her thoughts were occupied with the surprise she was preparing.

She walked toward her white BMW X5M and pressed the button to open the trunk.

The rear door lifted automatically.

Inside sat a cardboard box.

Yue Ling leaned forward and carefully lifted it out.

The box contained a small helium tank she had purchased during her shopping trip.

She adjusted her grip before stepping away from the vehicle.

With one hand, she pressed the button to close the trunk.

The door began lowering.

Yue Ling watched until it shut completely.

Then, just as she was about to turn toward the house, something caught her attention.

Her eyes shifted toward the trees bordering the yard.

She paused.

For a brief moment, she stood perfectly still.

Then the corners of her lips curved upward.

’Interesting.’

Her gaze settled on a particular section of bushes near the trees.

There was nothing visibly unusual about them.

No obvious movement.

No sound.

But Yue Ling’s eyes remained fixed on the same spot.

Then she smiled.

Slowly, she raised her index finger to her lips.

A silent gesture.

Without saying a word, she turned and carried the box back toward the house.

The front door closed behind her a moment later.

Hidden deep among the bushes, Shaofeng remained frozen. His eyes were wide. His mouth hung slightly open.

For several seconds, he did not move.

Then he slowly raised a hand toward his earpiece.

"Guys..."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

A brief crackle sounded.

Yiqing answered.

"What?"

Shaofeng swallowed.

"Do you think she knows it was me?"

There was a moment of silence.

Then Yiqing burst into laughter.

"What do you think?"

Shaofeng frowned.

"I’m serious!"

"So am I."

Yiqing’s laughter continued.

"I told you not to hide in the bushes."

Shaofeng looked around his hiding spot.

He had chosen a thick cluster of shrubs near the trees surrounding the house.

The branches were dense enough to conceal his figure, and the angle provided a clear view of the driveway and side entrance.

He even wore a camouflage outfit to blend in with the snow and bushes.

He had been certain it was an excellent position.

At least until Yue Ling looked directly at him.

"What’s wrong with the bushes?" he muttered.

Yiqing chuckled.

"Nothing. Except you picked the most obvious place to hide from someone like Boss Lady."

Shaofeng pouted.

"I wasn’t being obvious."

"She looked straight at you."

"Maybe she was looking at something behind me."

Another burst of laughter came through the earpiece.

Shaofeng’s expression darkened.

"You’re not helping."

Weilong finally spoke.

"Did she actually make eye contact with you?"

Shaofeng hesitated.

"...Yes."

"And then?"

"She smiled."

A brief pause.

"Then she put her finger against her lips."

Yiqing laughed harder.

"Oh, she definitely knows."

Shaofeng closed his eyes.

He had been trying to convince himself otherwise.

But remembering who Yue Ling was made that hope seem ridiculous.

This was the woman who led Fate.

A woman capable of detecting threats that even trained professionals occasionally overlooked.

She was practically the female version of his Boss.

And he had thought a few bushes would be enough to hide him.

He sighed heavily.

"I really underestimated Boss Lady."

Jiangyu’s calm voice entered the conversation.

"That’s your first mistake."

Shaofeng frowned.

"What’s my second?"

"Thinking she wouldn’t notice you after the first."

Yiqing burst into laughter again.

Shaofeng groaned.

"Can everyone stop making fun of me?"

Weilong chuckled.

"Then stop giving us reasons."

Shaofeng leaned his head back against the tree behind him.

For a moment, he considered remaining where he was.

But then he remembered the box Yue Ling had carried inside.

"Since she already saw me, should I just go inside and make myself known?"

The other three men did not answer immediately.

Then Weilong spoke.

"I mean, she was carrying a helium tank."

"So?"

"So maybe she’s decorating something."

Shaofeng blinked.

"Decorating?"

"Why else would she need helium?"

Yiqing chimed in.

"Maybe she’s preparing a surprise for Boss."

Shaofeng’s eyes widened.

"Then why did she tell me to be quiet?"

"Because she doesn’t want you telling him."

Shaofeng slowly looked toward the house.

That actually made sense.

He had seen Yue Ling smile before raising her finger to her lips.

She had not looked alarmed or displeased.

If anything, she had seemed amused.

Perhaps she really was preparing something.

"But Boss told us to keep watch," Shaofeng muttered.

"And we are keeping watch," Yiqing replied.

"Then should I tell him what she’s doing?"

Jiangyu finally spoke.

"Don’t tell Boss anything about the surprise."

Shaofeng blinked.

"Really?"

"Boss Lady clearly wants it kept secret."

"But Boss told us to report anything unusual."

Jiangyu sighed.

"Shaofeng."

"Yes?"

"Is Boss Lady carrying a helium tank a security threat?"

Shaofeng considered the question.

"...No."

"Did she appear distressed?"

"No."

"Did anyone approach her?"

"No."

"Then there’s nothing to report."

Shaofeng nodded slowly.

"That makes sense."

Jiangyu continued.

"But if she attempts to leave the property or anything suspicious happens, you report it immediately."

"Roger."

Shaofeng looked toward the house again.

Then another thought occurred to him.

"Wait."

Yiqing groaned.

"What now?"

"If she’s preparing a surprise for Boss, and Boss finds out we knew about it..."

He swallowed.

"Won’t he be angry?"

Weilong chuckled.

"Probably."

Shaofeng’s face fell.

"Probably?!"

Yiqing laughed.

"Relax. Boss isn’t going to punish you for helping Boss Lady prepare a surprise."

"Are you sure?"

"No."

Shaofeng nearly choked.

"Yiqing!"

Jiangyu interrupted before the conversation could deteriorate further.

"Enough. Maintain your positions."

Shaofeng sighed.

"Then what should I do?"

Weilong answered.

"Since she already spotted you, you might as well approach the house and see whether she needs help."

Shaofeng looked toward the front door.

"Go inside?"

"Only if Boss Lady allows it."

Shaofeng considered the suggestion.

It would certainly be more comfortable than remaining crouched among the bushes.

And if Yue Ling was preparing something, perhaps helping her would keep him from looking like a complete fool.

He slowly stood.

Leaves rustled around him as he emerged from the shrubs.

He brushed dirt from his pants and glanced toward the house.

Then he looked up at the sky.

"I really don’t understand this couple."

Yiqing chuckled.

"What now?"

Shaofeng shook his head.

"Boss leaves us here to protect Boss Lady without telling her."

He started walking toward the residence.

"Boss Lady catches us hiding and tells us to keep her secret."

He sighed dramatically.

"So many secrets."

Weilong laughed.

"Welcome to married life."

Shaofeng frowned.

"You’re not married."

"Neither are you."

"That’s not the point!"

Yiqing’s laughter echoed through the earpiece.

Shaofeng ignored him and continued toward the house.

After several steps, he stopped.

"Guys..."

Jiangyu answered.

"What?"

Shaofeng glanced nervously toward the entrance.

"Please make sure Boss doesn’t punish me for being alone with his wife."

There was a brief silence.

Then Yiqing spoke.

"Shaofeng."

"Yes?"

"You’re going there to help her decorate, not to propose marriage."

Weilong burst into laughter.

Shaofeng’s face turned red.

"That’s not what I meant!"

Jiangyu sighed.

"Just do your job."

"Roger..."

Shaofeng lowered his hand from his earpiece.

He looked toward the front door.

Then he straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath.

He had faced dangerous assignments before.

He had trained under some of the most formidable members of Wolf Team.

He had even participated in missions where a single mistake could have cost him his life.

Yet somehow, approaching his Boss Lady’s front door while carrying the knowledge of her secret surprise felt considerably more intimidating.

He raised his hand toward the doorbell.

Then paused.

’Maybe I should just go back to the bushes.’

Before he could change his mind, the front door suddenly opened.

Shaofeng froze.

Standing in the doorway was Yue Ling.

Her bluish-green eyes looked directly at him.

A knowing smile curved her lips.

"Are you going to stand there all afternoon?"

Shaofeng’s mouth fell open.

"B-Boss Lady..."

Yue Ling tilted her head.

"Well?"

He immediately straightened.

"Good afternoon, Boss Lady!"

She glanced at the leaves still clinging to his shoulder.

Then at the small twig caught in his hair.

Her smile widened.

"Comfortable in those bushes?"

Shaofeng’s expression crumbled.

Behind his earpiece, Yiqing burst into laughter.

Shaofeng closed his eyes.

’I’m never hiding in a bush again.’

Yue Ling chuckled softly then she stepped aside.

"Come in."

Shaofeng blinked.

"Really?"

"Unless you’d rather go back to your hiding spot."

He shook his head immediately.

"No, Boss Lady!"

"Good."

She turned toward the hallway.

"Because I could use an extra pair of hands."

Shaofeng hesitated at the threshold.

"Boss Lady..."

Yue Ling looked back.

"Hm?"

He swallowed.

"Boss doesn’t know about this, right?"

Her smile turned mischievous.

"No."

Shaofeng felt his heart sink.

"And we’re not going to tell him."

He stared at her.

Yue Ling raised one finger to her lips.

"Remember?"

Shaofeng slowly nodded.

"Yes, Boss Lady."

She smiled with satisfaction.

"Good. Now come help me."

He stepped inside.

The door closed behind him.

And somewhere outside, three members of Wolf Team were struggling to contain their laughter.

Shaofeng could already imagine the questions his boss would ask if he discovered what had happened.

But as he followed Yue Ling toward the living room, one thought continued echoing through his mind.

’Please, Boss... whatever she’s planning, don’t blame me.’

Meanwhile, far from the residence, Lu Tian was driving toward Ji Mansion with a folder containing secrets that could change his wife’s life.

He had no idea that the youngest member of Wolf Team had just become an unwilling accomplice in one of Yue Ling’s own secrets.

And while one husband was preparing to uncover a dangerous truth, his wife was preparing something entirely different.

Something she hoped would bring a smile to his face.

For now, neither knew what the other was doing.

And Shaofeng, caught between them, could only pray that he would survive long enough to see how both secrets unfolded.