Unexpected Second Chance at Love

In the center of Imperial’s busiest area, Lu Corps’ tall dark building stood its ground like a mighty pillar. Lu Tian sat in his office as he looks over some documents. He had finished all the meetings that should have taken a total of 7 hours to 3 hours.

However, despite all the meetings being dealt with, he still needs to look over some matters between Lu Corps and other companies.

*knock knock

Suddenly, the door to his office sounds, but the person behind does not enter and waits for his approval.

"Come in."

He spoke without looking away from the documents in his hand. If it had been Xu Long, the man would have entered as he knock on the door, but this person did not.

"CEO Lu."

Entering the room, Secretary Ye nervously spoke as she push the door open. Seeing that her boss did not look at her, she sighed in relief.

Each time something comes up, even as the secretary, she would inform the assistant since everyone in Lu Corps knows that their boss doesn’t like random people especially women inside his office. However, Xu Long was not at his desk. He had left to meet a client in Lu Tian’s place.

Without looking at the woman, Lu Tian coldly spoke as usual. "Speak."

Secretary Ye gulp with difficulty and walks towards the desk. She made sure she was not too close and too far.

"Miss Zhao is here."

Hearing her words, Lu Tian did not look up from the documents, but his brows slightly crease. Why would his cousin be here? From young till now, she has never step foot inside Lu Corps.

Setting the document in his hand down, he reach for another and his voice sounds.

"Let her in."

"Right away sir."

Secretary Ye politely bows in understanding and leaves the room. Her steps were as if the man sitting behind the desk was the devil and she needed to get out or else she would lose her life.

A few minutes after Secretary Ye left, Zhao Ya’Er was led into Lu Tian’s office.

Her short pixi hair cut looked shorter than before, but it matched her facial features. She wore a white turtleneck sweater that tucked inside her black flare skirt that came down to her knees. Wrapping around her calves was a pair of suede knee-length boots in a shade of black.

Walking over to one of the dark couches in her cousin’s spacious office, she toss her bag down and sits down. Leaning forward, her palms held under her chin and her elbows rested on her knees.

Without waiting for the man to ask why she is here, she spoke first.

"Cousin, can you help me find someone?"

Hearing her sudden inquiry on his help, Lu Tian finally looks away from the document in his hand. Looking at his cousin, he arch a brow.

"Who?"

Zhao Ya’Er’s eyes lit up knowing that her cousin was going to help her, but hearing his question, her shoulders slump downward.

"That’s the hard part. I don’t know anything about him."

She sighs aloud in defeat before leaning back on the couch. Her posture was nowhere near woman like at all.

"I don’t even know his name."

Seeing her suddenly act lazy, Lu Tian shook his head. He fold his arms over his chest and part his lip.

"I can’t help you if you don’t give me a name."

Hearing his words, Zhao Ya’Er felt like someone had poured cold water on her. She close her eyes and cries with no tears as her body slides to the side and her head rest on the armrest of the couch.

"You have to help me. I need to find him."

Lu Tian stares expressionlessly at her. However, seeing something, his eyes flash with danger but it was only for a quick second before it disappeared.

Remembering the mysterious person’s face, Zhao Ya’Er sat up and stares seriously at her aloof cousin. Her palms clasp together in pleading and she gives him a puppy look.

"Please... Pretty please. Only you can help me."

Glancing at the wall clock in his office, Lu Tian sighs inside. He needed to quickly take care of things here so he can return to his wife. However, now that Zhao Ya’Er is here, he knows that she won’t stop bothering him until he helps her.

"Fine."

He lift his hand and pinch the space between his brows.

"Where did you meet this person?"

Zhao Ya’Er’s eyes lit up more and she stood up from the couch. Walking over to her cousin, she spread her arms and twirl around like she was dancing in a field of roses.

"I met him at the nightclub Spring."

Stopping in her spins, she could remember that night so vividly like it was just yesterday.

"He’s my knight in shining armor. I have never met anyone with so much courage before."

Thinking about that night at Spring, she covers her mouth and giggles to herself.

"He is the most handsomest man I have ever laid my eyes on. Every time I think about him, it sends me to cloud nine."

"..."

Lu Tian was at a loss for all words as he stares at the lovestruck woman with heavy eyelids. He only asked where she met this person, not how she feels.

Shaking his head, he interrupts the woman’s ongoing blabbering about her love.

"I’ll have Xu Long look into it."

Hearing the name, Zhao Ya’Er slightly tilt her head and furrow her brows. Why does that name sound so familiar? She knows she heard it somewhere but cannot remember when or where.

*knock knock

"Boss!"

Just as Zhao Ya’Er thought this, a knock sounds at the door with a man’s cheerful voice. Guessing it must be Lu Tian’s assistant, she decides it was time to leave.

"Cousin, I hope you can do this small favor for me."

Lu Tian nod his head and looks over to Xu Long, "What is it?"

Seeing Zhao Ya’Er inside his boss’s office, Xu Long felt like digging a hole to hide in. He had entered in such a childish way that no grown man should have. However, hearing his boss, he smiles.

"The meeting was a success."

Zhao Ya’Er had just turned around to leave when she was able to take a look at her cousin’s assistant. Her eyes widen, and her jaw dropped to the ground. It took her brain a while to contemplate everything before she was able to force out two words.

"It’s you."

Walking pass the woman, Xu Long stops in his steps when he heard her sudden words. He looks at her in confusion. She spoke like they have met before, but he’s sure that if they did meet, he would remember a beautiful woman like her.

Unable to recall ever meeting her, he politely smiles and stretch a hand to her.

"Miss Zhao, it’s good to finally meet you in person. I am CEO Lu’s assistant, Xu Long."

Zhao Ya’Er stares at the man. She felt like cupid had just shot an arrow into her heart letting her meet her savior again but hearing the way he spoke to her in a unfamiliar way, it was like cupid had ruthlessly pulled that arrow out.

However, remembering where she is, she keeps herself together and nods a smile to him. Lifting her hand, she shakes his hand.

"No need for the formality, you can call me Ya’Er."

Setting her hand down, she turns back to look at Lu Tian and smiles in an almost mischievous way.

"I hope you don’t go back on your words."

Lu Tian shrug his shoulder and stood up from his chair. Taking a cigarette out, he lights it up.

"Do I ever?"

Staring at him, Zhao Ya’Er’s eyes narrow before she turns away. Her cousin has never gone back on his words.

Looking at Xu Long again, she gives him a playful wink before leaving the room.

Xu Long stood frozen in place at what just happened. Did he miss something? Why did his boss’s beautiful cousin suddenly send him a flirty wink? Is this some kind of prank? Did he do something wrong?

"Xu Long."

Lu Tian’s deep voice sounds as he stood in front of the floor to ceiling window. He stares down to the tiny busy street below and his words continue.

"Cancel all collaboration with Industrial Group."

Hearing his sudden order, Xu Long furrow his brows in more confusion.

"Industrial Group? Isn’t that..."

He wanted to say, ’Isn’t that the company of Miss Zhao’s boyfriend’s family’ but feeling the sudden drop of temperature in the room, Xu Long could only swallow his words.

"I’ll get it done right away."

Lu Tian leisurely smoke his cigarette as he thought to himself. Even though Zhao Ya’Er was wearing a sweater that covered her neck, he was able to see the faint marking of a dark bruise on the side of her neck.

Since Wei Hongyi wants to lay a finger on his cousin, he (Lu Tian) will let him know what the consequence is.