The night was getting darker.
Tang Yuyan and Xia Lei led Shentu Tianyin to one of the many guest rooms in the Peace Mansion.
Tang Yuyan spoke, “Tianyin, this will be your room for the night. Feel free to ask me if there’s anything else that you need.”
Shentu Tianyin nodded. “Thank you.” She stared at Xia Lei. She seemed like she wanted to say something else but decided to hold back.
Tang Yuyan smiled at her knowingly. “You two should talk. I’ll retire to my room now.”
“Yuyan, you…” Inexplicably, Xia Lei suddenly felt like he had done something wrong.
That prompted Tang Yuyan to turn around and spare him a smile. “There’s nothing wrong with normal conversations. It’s been a while since we last met each other. I’m sure there’s plenty that you wish to talk about.”
Xia Lei's smile was lopsided. “You can head back first, I’ll join you in a bit.”
“Okay.” was Tang Yuyan’s curt response before she walked away.
Shentu Tianyin voiced, “She really has changed. I guess women change greatly after marriage. Perhaps she has found her true happiness now that she’s right next to you. I’m genuinely glad for her.”
Despite the sweet words, Xia Lei’s heart was plagued by a strong, spiralling bitterness. He knew he was running out of time and the man could not bear to confess his impending doom to his lovers. Xia Lei had everything now- If he wanted the wind, he’d get the wind; if he wanted rain, he’d get the rain. He was married to several gorgeous women and his children were all gifted. Almost everyone envied him and Xia Lei seemed to be at bliss too. Sadly, what people could not see was his fleeting life. Who could understand the stress of having to put on a smile in the face of death?
This secret would go untold even to Shentu Tianyin.
“Xia Lei, about that…” Shentu Tianyin brought up a topic that she was eager to hear an answer about.
Xia Lei snapped back to reality. He replied, “About that… Tianyin, could you please spare me some more time? I promise I’ll come back with an answer.”
“Alright, I’ll wait.” Despite those words, the sadness reflecting off her eyes was obvious. “When will you leave for Nigeria?”
Xia Lei answered, “Giovanna and the others would’ve completed their preparations tomorrow night.”
“I’m coming with,” said Shentu Tianyin.
“What?” Xia Lei was taken aback. Never in his life would he had expected Shentu Tianyin to come up with such an idea.
Shentu Tianyin was not a fighter. The woman had never once held a gun in her life, let alone been involved in fights. Plus, she was China’s richest woman with an asset of over hundreds of billions. Shentu Tianyin was not fit to come on an adventure to Nigeria. This was literally madness.
“How is that supposed to work? Why would you come up with that idea in the first place?” Xia Lei rejected it directly.
Yet, Shentu Tianyin’s gaze was unwavering. “I’m the owner of the Alliance Mine. Now that the Americans are trying to make a move on it, it’s my responsibility to do something.”
“I dare confirm that the invaders are American Special Force soldiers who have been given orders to kill no matter what. What can you even do if you go? You can’t possibly be thinking about a negotiation. They won’t even spare you a chance to speak. Once they track you down, one missile will be enough to take you out of the picture,” explained Xia Lei.
Surprisingly, Shentu Tianyin showed no fear. She retorted, “But what about you? You too will face the same danger you described. Why are you still heading over? You have the choice to stay out of this and leave matters to the government.”
Xia Lei smiled bitterly at that. “I’m sure I’ve explained my reasons earlier. Our country has no overseas military bases and the distance renders us unable to take control of the situation over there. It took us a lot to overcome America’s advantage in aerial combat and if they turned the tables around, their strategies would no doubt become more aggressive. War might even happen.”
“The country is none of my business, I’m only doing what I wish to do.”
“Tianyin, you…”
Shentu Tianyin pressed, “I know things are complicated in Nigeria. I’m aware that it’s going to be dangerous too. But you’ll be there to protect me, no?”
Xia Lei was speechless. True, he would no doubt protect her but as soon as a war breaks out, she’d become a burden. Bullets have no eyes and the CIA’s assassins are trained to be merciless. While he could guarantee his own survival on the battlefield, he could not say the same for her. Even if he were to grant her protection, her safety was still not guaranteed!
“I can tell what’s on your mind now and I’m not trying to be difficult here.” Shentu Tianyin’s words were laced with sadness. “To be honest… I don’t mind losing the Alliance Mine. I really couldn’t be bothered about it. Do you really not understand why I yearn to come with you? I just want to experience a trip of a lifetime with you. I can’t put down my ego and be with you like the rest of them. What I’m asking for is something for me to look back on.”
Xia Lei was silent. This decision was difficult to call as it was a matter of Shentu Tianyin’s life or death.
“Also…” Shentu Tianyin stopped herself, the tip of her ears burning red.
She was also asking for a child, something she yearned for the most.
An exciting adventure of a lifetime that she could look back on and a child were her two wildest wishes. For the sake of realizing it, Shentu Tianyin had placed her own safety at the back of her mind. It must’ve taken a lot of courage for a delicate woman like her to settle on these decisions.
The corners of her eyes were getting wet. “Xia Lei, you gave me a chance once upon a time to choose between you and the Vientiane Group. I chose the latter. After that, every moment of my life was spent in pain, never happiness. I’m begging you to give me another chance so I can truly move on. Please, allow me to choose you just this once. I really wish to experience those heart-pounding moments with you and make great memories.”
Shentu Tianyin was practically on her knees now. How could he say no to her?
Xia Lei sighed heavily. “Alright. But if you’re coming with me, I’d need to rearrange things. And from now on, you’ll need to leave your phone here and keep it charging for twenty-four hours.”
“Why?”
“Those four Americans have hacked into your company’s system. Perhaps they might have pinpointed your GPS signal. Leave your phone in my house and do not accept any calls. That way, it’ll create an illusion that you’ve been hiding in my house. They would not dare to enter this place,” explained Xia Lei.
“Understood. Leave my phone charging and do not accept any calls.” Shentu Tianyin repeated his words. “Anything else?”
Xia Lei answered, “Leave the rest to me. I’ll meet you after the preparations are done.”
“Mm.” A smile was finally back on Shentu Tianyin’s lips again.
“You should go rest now. It’s about time for me… to head back.” Xia Lei fumbled over his words.
Shentu Tianyin still had her eyes pinned on Xia Lei, not willing to enter her room just yet.
Xia Lei could only offer her a sheepish smile before turning away to leave.
He marched over to the biggest room in the house and was immediately greeted by a gathering of five women. Jiang Ruyi was even using her tablet to search up news reports on the Nigerian situation. Without a doubt, his soon-to-happen Nigerian trip was their discussion topic. Their knitted brows and grim expressions had made it obvious that they were absolutely anxious about it.
Xia Lei closed the door behind him and approached them. He smiled. “I’m just going out on a trip. There’s nothing to be worried about. Relax, I’ll be fine. Compared to my last trip to America, this is nothing. I can assure you that I’ll be alright.”
Liang Siyao sighed. “The Boko Haram armed group is a notorious terrorist organization. They will not play by the game and you’ve never fought against terrorists. How can I not be worried?”
“Yeah. If you come across a roadside bomb or a suicide bomber, how are you going to handle it?” Long Bing’s eyes were filled with unspoken concern.
“Hubby, can you please not go?” Jiang Ruyi sounded close to pleading. “Jianghe is still so young. What do we do if you…”
She was unwilling to speak of ill fates.
Fan Fan seemed like she wanted to say something but the woman had stayed silent. But it was obvious that she was equally worried about Xia Lei too.
Though Tang Yuyan looked concerned, she did not try to persuade Xia Lei to give up on his plan. Among the women in this room, Tang Yuyan had faced the most difficulties and hardships to become one of Xia Lei’s wife. She cherished that and she would not wish to hinder Xia Lei at all. All she wanted was to offer her best to him, and that had included her personality.
Xia Lei’s chuckle felt a little forced. “What is with you guys? This is not the first time I’m going out of the country. Why are you making it sound like death? Really, there’s nothing to worry about. I urge you to relax, I promise I’ll be alright. I’m not going alone, I have the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team and the Relief Society that the female knights had formed. They’ve got plenty of resources in the African branches and I’ve also called Prince Harifah for him to send some Thunder Horse Organizations weapons over to Nigeria. There’s an army waiting for me there, is that still worrying to you?”
The knowledge had allowed the women to ease up a little. They were fully aware of who Xia Lei was as a person. This man was stubborn, he would not change his mind on something he had decided on. Another thing was that their husband was also a cold-blooded killing machine. Many lives were lost to his hands. For a man like this, going into a battle was just as casual as going out for a stroll.
“Sigh.” Liang Siyao heaved. “Alright, alright. I’m not going to say anything else. You’re not going to listen anyway. We just hope that you’ll pay extra attention and be careful, okay? Be extremely cautious and think about us and the children always, yeah?”
Xia Lei went forward and pulled her in by the waist. “Do you really think I could stand to leave you and the children behind? I don’t wish to be separated but some matters must be settled and some enemies must be destroyed, or else they’d come harm you instead.”
“Hubby, when will you be leaving?” asked Long Bing.
Xia Lei too pulled her close. “Tomorrow night. Giovanna and the others are already making relevant arrangements.”
“I see…” Fan Fan worried her lower lip. “Looks like I’ll be staying the night here since Xia Fan is already asleep now.”
Jiang Ruyi said, “Xia Jianghe is already asleep too. I… I’ll be sleeping here too.”
Tang Yuyan was the most direct of them all. “Then let’s all sleep together tonight.”
Xia Lei was speechless.
This was a paradise reserved for only Xia Lei to enjoy.
In another room, Shentu Tiayin laid atop the bed in her lavender underwear. She was zoning out while she stared at the charging phone at the corner. Her mind couldn’t help but be fixated on some thoughts- “Who is he spending the night with tonight? Tang Yuyan? Liang Siyao? Or Long Bing? Perhaps it’s…”
No matter who her mind had settled on, the tingling sourness in her gut was equally apparent.