Yong Liwei was so speechless that he didn't know how to even react. Lu Xian Yu was warning him, that's for sure but at the same time, he knew that he felt sorry for him.

"I guess no normal man can handle my daughter." He sighed. "She loves me so much that she ended up marrying a man like me." This time, Lu Xian Yu couldn't suppress his proud smile. "Of course, of course, She's my daughter after all. They say that children's first love is usually their parents. I guess it can't be helped."

With Yong Liwei being quiet, the other man looked more like he was talking to himself. Lu Mengjie was crazy alright but he could see who she inherited it from. 

…

Back in Lu Mengjie's room, she told her mother the truth about her relationship with Yong Liwei and Bai Jingye. She trusted her mother enough, knowing that she was the type to give her children the independence they needed, to learn from the decisions they made. Lu Jinnian and Xia Liqin were in the room too so they listened as well.

"My only request is that… please don't tell dad about this," she pleaded. "Also, please let me handle this."

Li Bingbing stared at her daughter for a while. Her situation was complicated. She was right not to tell her husband about this. Who knew what Lu Xian Yu could do to the Bai family? He was an unpredictable man but she knew what he was capable of.

"But Jiejie, it'll be easier if we work together, don't you think?" Xia Liqin suggested.

Lu Jinnian nodded. "It could be dangerous if you face them alone."

"No, you can't be involved in this. Jinjin, you need to focus on your studies and Qinqing, I know that you're busy."

"I can always make time for you."

"Yeah, me too!"

She shook her head a bit as she declined their help. Things could become dangerous and she wanted to avoid involving her family. "This is my problem. Besides, I am not alone." 

"Jiejie—"

"Liqin, Jinnian," Li Bingbing finally opened her mouth, cutting them off. She began walking towards her daughter and stopped in front of her. She placed a hand on her shoulder. The side of her lips curled up as she said, "you are my daughter. You may not need our help right now but when the time comes, remember that you have us."

"Mom…" Lu Mengjie's lips trembled as her eyes became teary. She knew that her mother was right. A warm sensation grew in her chest. She leaned forward and hugged her. Back then, she had always felt so alone but now that she was back, she never felt so home. Sadly, she had to leave again as soon as she arrived but that was alright, she already has a family of her own and another home she could live in.

Li Bingbing pulled away from the hug. She wiped the tears that formed on the side of her eyes before she gently stroked her daughter's ebony hair. "You are not allowed to die. It's okay to run away."

Lu Mengjie rolled her eyes. "As if that's going to happen. I'm never going to let my guards down anymore."

"Good," she said in approval. "We will watch you behind the scenes."

Xia Liqin and Lu Jinnian's eyes lit up as they understood their mother's words. Just like them, Lu Mengjie was the same.

"We'll jump in once you're in danger!" Lu Jinnian said with a grin.

She could only flash them a small smile. "I guess I have three stalkers now, hm?"

"Don't worry, you won't even feel that we're watching you, Jiejie!" Lu Jinnian exclaimed.

"That's even creepier." She laughed a bit. "You don't need to do that. I don't want my brothers and mother watching me having sex with my husband. That's weird."

In an instant, her brothers' faces were twisted as they looked at her in disgust, in unison they exclaimed "Yuck!" 

On the other hand, their mother erupted into a laugh. "Thanks for the idea!"

"I'm serious." She pouted. "If ever I'm in danger, I'll just contact you using Kuro," she suggested.

...

Soon after, Lu Mengjie went down with her brothers. Both Xia Liqin and Lu Jinnian were like two pups that followed her around the place. They were both pouty and sulky, obviously depressed about her leaving the house. Her family accompanied her outside.

"You have to come and visit us, alright?" Lu Xian Yu hugged her. "If you need anything, call us."

"Then…can dad unfreeze my cards?" She grinned at him after pulling back from the hug.

"Ah…" He chuckled a bit. "Yes, of course."

"You won't need them anymore when you already have a billionaire as your husband," Xia Liqin mumbled. He looked at Yong Liwei. "Don't forget my monthly allowance."

Smack!

The sound of Li Bingbing hitting her son from behind. "What are you, a kid? Monthly allowance my ass, aren't you ashamed of asking your uncle?"

Lu Jinnian sighed as he watched their mother scold his brother. 

"Ouch…" He groaned as he lightly rubbed his butt. "He's stealing Jiejie from us. It's only right for him to give us an allowance. Besides, it's what Jiejie promised me back then." He took out his phone and played the recording.

"I can't believe that you're hitting on an old man," a groan in disgust was heard. "Even if he looks young, the fact that his age is just a few years younger than our dad is very disturbing. If you plan on getting me a brother-in-law, at least choose someone young."

Xia Liqin tapped the screen of his phone to pause the recording. "Remember? Fufufu~"

Lu Mengjie's face went pale the moment she heard it. She remembered the conversation they had that day. How dare he record it!? "Give it to me!"

Her brother quickly went behind their father. "Dad, Jiejie is going to steal my phone!"

"Liqin—"

"I want to hear this." Li Bingbing snickered as she took a step in between to block her daughter. "Play the recording, Qinqing."