Unexpected Second Chance at Love

Chapter 1076: Calculated Risk

The afternoon passed quietly at De L’amour.

Despite her unexpected encounter with Ning Xingyu earlier that day, Yue Ling continued working as though nothing unusual had happened.

After her call with Lu Tian, she attended a brief meeting with the design department, reviewed several proposals, and approved the final adjustments for an upcoming collection.

By late afternoon, she had returned to her office and immersed herself in a new design.

The encounter with Ning Xingyu had been pushed to the back of her mind.

Not because she had dismissed his words about Grandfather Ji, but because she saw little reason to dwell on a matter until she had something more substantial to work with.

If Ning Xingyu was serious about arranging their meeting, he would contact her assistant.

Until then, she had other responsibilities demanding her attention.

Seated behind her desk, Yue Ling moved her stylus across the tablet, carefully refining the silhouette of an evening gown.

Her bluish-green eyes studied the design.

She erased a line, adjusted the neckline, and began sketching again.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

She did not look up.

The door opened, and Liu Shan stepped inside.

He held his phone in one hand, his expression unusually troubled.

For several seconds, he watched his boss continue sketching.

Then he bit the inside of his cheek.

"Um, Boss?"

"Mm?"

"I don’t know what happened during your lunch today, but I just received a rather interesting phone call."

Yue Ling’s stylus continued moving.

"From whom?"

"Ning Xingyu’s assistant."

Her hand stopped.

For a moment, she stared at the unfinished line on her tablet.

Then her brows drew together as she recalled the conversation outside the restaurant.

A quiet breath escaped her.

"I guess he was serious."

Liu Shan blinked.

’Serious?’

He tilted his head.

"Am I missing something here?"

Yue Ling resumed sketching.

"Possibly."

His frown deepened.

"Boss, since when did you and Ning Xingyu become close enough to have dinner together?"

Her stylus paused again.

Liu Shan continued before she could answer.

"I mean, his sister never got along with you when she was alive. And as far as I know, you barely had anything to do with him."

He glanced at his phone.

"Now, all of a sudden, his assistant is calling to arrange a private dinner for tomorrow night?"

Yue Ling set her stylus down.

"Did you confirm the arrangement?"

Liu Shan stared at her.

"That’s what you’re concerned about?"

"Did you?"

"No."

He shook his head.

"I told his assistant I’d have to check your schedule first."

Yue Ling gave a subtle nod.

"Good."

She picked up her stylus.

"Approve it."

Silence.

Liu Shan remained motionless.

For a moment, he wondered whether he had misunderstood her.

"Boss?"

"Mm?"

"What did you just say?"

Yue Ling did not look up.

"I said, set it up."

Liu Shan’s mouth fell open.

He closed it.

Then opened it again.

Nothing came out.

He stared at the woman seated behind the desk, wondering whether she had somehow become a different person during her lunch break.

In all the years he had worked for Yue Ling, he had never known her to entertain unnecessary attention from men.

Especially not men like Ning Xingyu.

She had barely acknowledged the man during their previous encounters, and Ning Mei’s hostility toward her had certainly done nothing to improve their relationship.

Yet now she was agreeing to dinner with him?

A private dinner?

Tomorrow night?

Liu Shan slowly lowered his phone.

"Boss..."

Yue Ling hummed in acknowledgment.

"Does Lu Tian know about this?"

Her stylus stopped.

She raised her eyes.

"I plan to tell him when I get home."

Liu Shan stared at her for another moment.

Then he rubbed his forehead.

"Boss, I don’t know if it’s my place to say this, but are you sure this is a good idea?"

Yue Ling leaned back in her chair.

"Go on."

He sighed.

"The world knows you are in a relationship with Lu Tian, and your wedding ceremony is only a few days away. If someone sees you having a private dinner with another man, especially someone with Ning Xingyu’s reputation, it could cause unnecessary rumors."

His expression grew serious.

"And you know how quickly rumors spread in Imperial."

Yue Ling considered his words.

"I know."

"Then why agree?"

She placed the tablet on her desk.

"Because he said something that caught my attention."

Liu Shan blinked.

Had something caught Yue Ling’s attention?

That alone was unusual.

He had been her assistant long enough to know that very few people could genuinely pique her interest.

And Ning Xingyu had never been among them.

"What did he say?"

Yue Ling looked at him.

"He mentioned Yeye’s health."

The change in Liu Shan’s expression was immediate.

His brows drew together.

"Grandfather Ji?"

She nodded.

"He knows about his condition."

Liu Shan’s earlier confusion gradually disappeared.

Now he understood why Yue Ling had agreed to the meeting.

Anything concerning Grandfather Ji or Ji Jingxu was enough to command her attention.

But that did not explain how Ning Xingyu had obtained such private information.

"So you’re saying he knows how serious Grandfather Ji’s condition is?"

"Enough to know that he doesn’t have much time left."

Liu Shan’s jaw tightened.

"Who told him?"

Yue Ling gave him a faint look.

"He said a little bird told him."

Liu Shan stared at her.

Then his expression darkened.

"Of course he did."

"He offered to reveal who it was."

"Let me guess. In exchange for dinner?"

Yue Ling nodded.

Liu Shan let out a humorless laugh.

"How generous of him."

His sarcasm was unmistakable.

He folded his arms across his chest.

"But Boss, you already have a good idea who told him, don’t you?"

"Ji Chu Hua."

The name left Yue Ling’s lips without hesitation.

Liu Shan was not surprised.

He had suspected the same thing.

"Then why bother meeting him?"

Yue Ling turned toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Beyond the glass, the afternoon sunlight stretched across the buildings of Imperial.

Traffic moved steadily along the streets below.

For a moment, she watched the city in silence.

"Because knowing who told him isn’t enough."

Liu Shan waited.

Yue Ling continued.

"I need to know why she told him."

She slowly turned her head.

"Ji Chu Hua doesn’t share information unless she expects something in return."

Liu Shan’s expression became thoughtful.

He knew his boss was right.

Ji Chu Hua had spent years cultivating the image of a gentle, capable woman.

But behind that carefully maintained appearance was someone far more calculating.

And now that Yue Ling had decided to accept Grandfather Ji’s request to become chairwoman of Ji Corps, there was little chance Ji Chu Hua would remain idle.

Liu Shan had already conducted his own investigation into the company’s internal affairs.

The results had been troubling.

Nearly half the board of directors appeared willing to support Ji Chu Hua when the question of succession arose.

Some had been promised favorable business arrangements.

Others had received expensive gifts or financial incentives.

And according to the information Liu Shan had uncovered, Ji Chu Hua had even resorted to intimate relationships with certain influential men to secure their loyalty.

She was determined to gain control of Ji Corps.

And she had already gone to considerable lengths to ensure she had enough support.

Liu Shan lowered his gaze.

If Ji Chu Hua was working with Ning Xingyu, the arrangement was unlikely to be harmless.

"You’re thinking they’re working together."

Yue Ling gave a slight nod.

"I think there’s a possibility."

"But you don’t know what they’re planning."

"Not yet."

Liu Shan frowned.

"So you want to use the dinner to find out."

"Exactly."

He considered her answer.

It was a reasonable approach.

Ning Xingyu had already revealed information he should not have possessed.

If he believed he had successfully gained Yue Ling’s interest, he might become careless enough to expose more.

Still, Liu Shan disliked the idea of placing his boss anywhere near the man.

"Are you sure about this?"

Yue Ling was quiet for a moment.

Then she sighed.

"If I’m going to understand what I’m walking into, I need to know what Ji Chu Hua is planning."

Her gaze sharpened.

"Especially now that I’ve agreed to take over Ji Corps."

Liu Shan understood.

Yue Ling was not concerned about Ning Xingyu’s intentions alone.

She wanted to know what her cousin intended to do before Grandfather Ji formally announced his successor.

And if Ning Xingyu was involved, the dinner might provide an opportunity to uncover their connection.

Liu Shan rubbed the back of his neck.

"I still don’t like it."

Yue Ling smiled faintly.

"I didn’t expect you to."

"He’s not someone you should trust."

"I don’t."

"Then why does this feel like I’m helping you walk straight into a trap?"

Yue Ling tilted her head.

"Because that’s exactly what he thinks I’m doing."

Liu Shan paused.

Then a reluctant smile tugged at his lips.

Of course.

He should have known.

Yue Ling had no intention of walking into the meeting unprepared.

She was simply allowing Ning Xingyu to believe he had gained the upper hand.

He sighed.

"All right. I’ll contact his assistant and confirm the arrangements."

"Thank you."

"But..."

Yue Ling raised an eyebrow.

Liu Shan gave her a meaningful look.

"There’s one very important person you seem to be forgetting."

"Who?"

"The King of Jealousy."

Yue Ling blinked.

Then she laughed.

Liu Shan shook his head.

"I’m serious, Boss."

"I know."

"You may have convinced me, but I doubt you’ll have such an easy time convincing him."

Yue Ling’s smile widened.

Liu Shan had given Lu Tian several nicknames over the years.

The King of Hell was reserved for moments when the man’s temper made everyone around him reconsider their life choices.

The King of Jealousy, however, was an entirely different matter.

And considering the circumstances, Liu Shan suspected the latter would be making an appearance very soon.

"You’re going to dinner with another man," he reminded her. "A man who clearly has no idea how dangerous your husband can be."

Yue Ling shook her head in amusement.

"I’ll explain everything to Tian when I get home."

Liu Shan sighed dramatically.

"Please do."

She picked up her tablet again.

"Anything else?"

He stared at her.

"You’re awfully calm about this."

"Should I be nervous?"

"Not for yourself."

His expression turned solemn.

"For Ning Xingyu."

Yue Ling chuckled.

Liu Shan shook his head once more.

"That man has absolutely no idea what line he’s crossed."

He turned toward the door.

"And I have a feeling he’s going to regret finding out."

Yue Ling smiled faintly but offered no response.

Liu Shan left her office, quietly closing the door behind him.

He had barely taken a few steps down the corridor when his phone began ringing.

Liu Shan reached into his pocket.

Upon seeing the caller’s name, his brows furrowed.

’Jiangyu.’

He answered.

"Liu Shan speaking."

There was no greeting from the other end.

Only a brief silence.

Then Jiangyu spoke.

"He’s dead."

Liu Shan stopped walking.

His expression changed.

"Who?"

Rather than remain in the corridor, he turned toward his own office.

He opened the door and stepped inside.

"Jiangyu, who are you talking about?"

He closed the door behind him.

The response came just as he reached his desk.

"Liu Peng."

Liu Shan froze.

For a moment, he thought he had misheard.

Then Jiangyu repeated himself.

"Liu Peng is dead."

Liu Shan slowly lowered himself into his chair.

His mind struggled to process the words.

"What do you mean, dead?"

Jiangyu exhaled.

"Shaofeng and I found him earlier."

Liu Shan straightened.

"Where?"

"We followed a lead to a property outside the main district. By the time we got there, he was already dead."

Liu Shan’s fingers tightened around the phone.

"How?"

"A gunshot wound to the head."

Silence settled over the office.

Liu Shan stared at the documents on his desk.

For several seconds, he could not find anything to say.

Liu Peng.

The man who had escaped during Red Militant’s downfall.

The man who had managed to slip through their grasp more than once.

The man responsible for years of suffering inflicted upon his own children.

Dead.

Just like that.

Liu Shan slowly leaned back in his chair.

He had spent countless hours searching for Liu Peng.

There had been nights when he barely slept, reviewing surveillance footage and tracing leads that ultimately led nowhere.

And now, after everything, the man had been found with a bullet in his head.

A bitter feeling settled in Liu Shan’s chest.

Part of him was angry.

Angry that Liu Peng had escaped the punishment he deserved.

Angry that he would never be forced to face the children whose lives he had nearly destroyed.

Liu Ye.

Liu Jingyu.

Liu Jianan.

They had suffered their whole life because of him.

And Liu Shan had wanted the man to answer for every bit of it.

Yet beneath the anger was something else.

Relief.

A quiet, undeniable relief.

If Liu Peng were truly dead, he could never hurt those children again.

They would no longer have to live beneath the shadow of their father’s cruelty.

Liu Shan closed his eyes briefly.

He remembered sitting with Lin Hui and telling the siblings that their father was dead.

At the time, they had believed it.

Only later had they discovered that Liu Peng had survived.

The truth had remained hidden from the children.

And from Yue Ling.

Now, perhaps, the nightmare had finally ended.

But another thought quickly surfaced.

’Who killed him?’

Liu Shan’s expression hardened.

Liu Peng’s death might have eliminated one threat.

But it could also mean someone was deliberately removing a loose end.

"Did you find anything else?" he asked.

"Not enough to draw a conclusion yet," Jiangyu replied. "We’re still examining the scene."

"Any indication of who shot him?"

"Nothing confirmed."

Liu Shan pressed his lips together.

"Understood."

He rubbed his forehead.

"I assume your boss already knows?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

There was a pause.

Then Jiangyu answered.

"He wants to discuss everything when we meet with Grandfather Ji."

Liu Shan frowned.

"The meeting about Choi Li Sun?"

"That’s the one."

Liu Shan’s gaze darkened.

For a moment, he wondered whether Liu Peng’s death had anything to do with the investigation.

The timing was troubling.

But without evidence, there was little point in making assumptions.

"All right," he said quietly.

"I’ll send you the details once we finish here," Jiangyu added.

"Keep me updated."

"Will do."

The call ended.

Liu Shan slowly lowered his phone.

He remained seated, staring at the screen long after it had gone dark.

Then he leaned back and looked toward the ceiling.

For several moments, he allowed himself to sit in silence.

No reports.

No phone calls.

No urgent decisions.

Just silence.

Liu Peng was dead.

The words should have satisfied him.

Instead, they left behind an uncomfortable emptiness.

He had imagined finding the man alive.

Dragging him back.

Making him answer for what he had done.

He had imagined the relief of knowing the children would finally be safe because Liu Peng could no longer reach them.

The relief of knowing that another person involved in Ji Jingxu’s kidnapping had been taken care of.

But he had never imagined discovering that someone else had already ended the man’s life.

Liu Shan exhaled slowly.

’At least they won’t have to be afraid of him anymore.’

His thoughts drifted toward Ji Jingxu and the three siblings.

Ji Jingxu was recovering at a healthy speed.

Liu Ye had finally begun building a future for himself at An Qing.

Liu Jingyu was preparing to attend school.

And little Jianan had been given a chance to experience the kind of childhood he should have had from the beginning.

They were finally finding stability.

Liu Shan wanted nothing more than for that peace to continue.

But he knew better than to assume Liu Peng’s death meant every danger surrounding them had disappeared.

Not while the identity of the person who had helped him remained unknown.

And certainly not while Choi Li Sun was still somewhere in Imperial.

He closed his eyes.

The weight of everything he had been concealing from Yue Ling pressed against him once more.

He had already kept too much from her.

And now another secret had been added to the growing list.

For a moment, he wondered how she would react when she finally learned the truth.

Would she understand why he had waited?

Or would she see his silence as a betrayal?

Liu Shan’s jaw tightened.

He did not know.

But he knew he could not continue avoiding the matter forever.

Eventually, Yue Ling would have to be told.

He only hoped that when the time came, they would have enough answers to explain everything.

After several minutes, Liu Shan opened his eyes.

The troubled expression gradually disappeared.

In its place returned the familiar composure of Yue Ling’s trusted assistant.

He straightened in his chair.

There was still work to be done.

And one particular matter required his immediate attention.

’Ning Xingyu.’

Liu Shan reached for his keyboard.

He opened his email and located the message from Ning Xingyu’s assistant.

The proposed dinner was scheduled for the following evening.

He read through the details carefully.

Then he began typing his response.

His fingers moved steadily across the keyboard.

Once he finished, he reviewed the message before sending it.

The arrangement was confirmed.

However, Liu Shan had also requested the complete reservation details, including the restaurant, private dining arrangements, and the names of any additional guests expected to attend.

If Ning Xingyu intended to change the location at the last minute, Liu Shan wanted advance notice.

He stared at the email for another moment.

Then clicked Send.

A quiet sigh escaped him.

Yue Ling had not asked him to take additional precautions.

But he had no intention of allowing her to attend the dinner without knowing exactly what she was walking into.

He knew enough about Ning Xingyu’s reputation to understand that the man was not someone to be trusted.

And if Ji Chu Hua was involved, there was even more reason to be cautious.

Liu Shan leaned back in his chair.

A faint, humorless smile touched his lips.

’You really picked the wrong woman, Ning Xingyu.’

The man probably believed he had successfully manipulated Yue Ling into accepting his invitation.

Perhaps he was already celebrating.

Perhaps he imagined tomorrow’s dinner would be the beginning of something.

Liu Shan almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

Because Ning Xingyu had made two very serious mistakes.

He had underestimated Han Yue Ling.

And he had chosen to pursue the wife of Lu Tian.

Liu Shan shook his head.

"The King of Jealousy is going to have a field day with this."

His smile faded as he glanced toward the documents on his desk.

Ning Xingyu could wait.

There was another matter that demanded his attention first.

Liu Peng’s death.

If the man had been murdered to prevent him from revealing something, then whoever pulled the trigger might still be protecting a much larger secret.

And Liu Shan intended to find out what it was.

He opened a new file on his computer.

Then he reached for his phone and began composing a message to Lin Hui and the others.

’Liu Peng is dead. We need to talk.’

He stared at the words for a moment before sending them.

Outside his office, De L’amour continued operating as usual.

Employees moved between departments.

Phones rang.

Designers discussed upcoming collections.

And behind the closed doors of her office, Yue Ling remained absorbed in her work, unaware that another piece of the mystery surrounding her had just taken an unexpected turn.

Liu Shan looked at the message on his screen.

One threat had apparently come to an end.

But he could not shake the feeling that Liu Peng’s death was not the conclusion they had been waiting for.

It was the beginning of another question.

And somewhere in Imperial, someone had made certain Liu Peng would never be able to answer it.