The mysterious man's eyes bulged then he held his stomach and laughed out loud 'how refreshing' he forgot the last time someone dared to threaten him, and what's even more ridiculous the one who dares to threaten him is a wasted woman who has no power whatsoever, it was ridiculous, where does she have the confidence?!

Lory didn't bother by his mocking laughter, it was a good thing for people to look down on her, so they would lose their guard down in front of her. Lory took another sip of his tea while staring at the lake while waiting for the mysterious man to stop laughing, it took a while before the mysterious man stopped laughing. He looked up and saw Lory watching the scene quietly without care about him.

​​

"Was he ignored?"

The men smirked at her boldness, this woman had the balls to ignore him, whether she was crazy or not he felt attracted to her, and that was probably not a good thing for her. Lory could feel intense vibrations coming from the mysterious man, Lory's grip on the cup tightened as she became alert, she didn't know what this man wanted but she was sure it wouldn't be a good thing.

Lory's index finger tapped his teacup in a monotone sound, the mysterious man was still staring at her with a strange grin plastered on his face. The two of them didn't speak, their eyes locked with each other.

From afar they would look like two people having an intimate conversation but if they stood closer they would feel a heavy atmosphere between them, it felt like a ticking bomb ready to explode at any moment.

"Ma...Madam Zhao, Madam Li is looking for you" a young maid suddenly broke the tense atmosphere, the young maid didn't understand what was going on, she stares at Lory and the mysterious man consecutively, the first time to come to the young maid was ' are they lovers?' the young maid shakes her head, that can be true, he knows the woman is married and this man doesn't look like her husband and this atmosphere also doesn't feel like a romantic atmosphere, what is happening here?

"Looks like you have to go?" The man smiled warmly.

"Looks like I have to…" Lory narrowed her eyes.

"We shall meet again" The mysterious man made a cryptic statement that sounds like a warning for Lory.

As fearless as always, Lory tilted her head slightly and smiled, "We shall then..."

The young maid was stunned, 'Did I stumble in an affair?'

Lory left the garden with the young maid, as he walked, Girsha flew down and perched on her shoulder.

[That guy Lory..] There was a hint of worry mixed in his voice.

[I know…] Lory rubbed her hands together to ease her nervousness, she might look calm but her hands were a little wet and damp.

Lory has been through many battles and wars, she has six senses when she encounters dangerous people and situations. Every fiber in her body was tingle the moment she met the mysterious man. Lory only looked calm because she had trained well and had a lot of experience when dealing with situations like this.

The man had the same dangerous aura as Zhao Li Xin that reminded her of when she first faced Behemoth when she was a child. However, with Zhao Li Xin, she never felt threatened by his presence, since the first time they met there was no doubt in her heart that Zhao Li Xin would never hurt her that's why she never avoided him, but the mysterious man was different.

There was an unspeakable madness and brutality leaking from him, it so thick she could almost taste it. Lory's heart was pounding knowing another strong enemy was coming towards her, at the same time she feel perplexed as she didn't know why she always drew the wrong crowd even though she didn't do anything.

"Princess..." a melodious low voice startled her, at the same time Girsha jumped off her shoulder and flew away saying [Lory, I'll keep an eye on that weird guy!]

It took Lory a few seconds to realize that she had returned to the private room then suddenly her waist was hugged by strong arms, and a familiar masculine scent touched her nose and her worries gradually disappeared, she lifted her head and saw Zhao Li Xin's beautiful onyx eyes staring at her.

"Someone bothered you?" his figure towered over him like a dark cloud, but she was not afraid in the slightest, this man was the most gentle, kind, and loving man she had ever met if her heart beating erratically it was because she loved him too much.

Zhao Li Xin's head leaned forward, her warm breath blowing against her skin then instantly the blood rushed to her head made her blush like a ripe tomato, if others said that men in this world were stiff and reserved Lory would rebuke 'Not this one!'

"I'm fine..." Lory averted her eyes from him, otherwise, she might unable to control her urge to kiss him senselessly.

"Really, you don't look fine to me…" he looks at her in doubt, he clearly saw she was anxious before.

Lory rubbed her cheek against Zhao Li Xin's chest at the same time inhaled his familiar scent then she let out a long breath of relief, "I'm fine now..."

Since her body had relaxed, Zhao Li Xin was sure she does feel better now, but what made her restless before? For all, he knew there was only one thing that would make her reacted this way but that 'thing' wasn't here, so he was sure that wasn't the case…but then, what else?

"Can you do it somewhere else, we are still here, you know" Yang Xi Ying complained.

Lory pulled her head from Zhao Li Xin's chest, and there she saw Yan Xi Ying sitting behind the desk checking a book while other piles of books were placed on the side of the table, meanwhile, Li Mo Zhen served a cup of tea for yang Xi Ying with a doting look.

"Tell that to yourself!" Lory's mouth twitched seeing Yang Xi Ying being intimate with Li Mo Zhen.

Yang Xi Ying pursed her lips pretending to be annoyed, "Who told you to have fun alone when I was busy checking the account book"

Lory rolled her eyes, then she took Zhao Li Xin's hand and led her to one of the chairs and pressed his shoulders to sit down then she turned to Yang Xi Ying again and put her hands on her hips "Who told you to eat so much, is not even lunch yet, If you eat like that all the time I'm worried that Xi Lin's tea house will run out of food soon"

"I'm not eating that much" Yang Xi Ying muttered.

"You clean almost the whole table by yourself" Lory reminds her.

"….."

Li Mo Zhen felt bad for Yang Xi Ying he quickly spoke for yang Xi Ying "Don't worry Lory, Xi Lin will never go bankrupt even if they don't have any more guests for a decade, not when this place is supported by Jiu Yun and Hei Shen sects" he reassured Lory, then he continues "It's better for Xi Ying to eat more, I think he looks cuter when she gets chubby"

Lory glanced at Yang Xi Ying and held his breath 'Uh-oh'

Yang Xi Ying gave an icy glare at Li Mo Zhen "You think I'm chubby?"

Li Mo Zhen froze, he realized he was in trouble, he quickly shook his head as he frantically said "No – no – no, I mean you are beautiful, very beautiful, trust me no matter what you still look gorgeous no matter how fat you are!"

Lory wants to scream at Li Mo Zhen 'DUDE!'

"So I'm FAT?!" Yang Xi Ying shouted in high pitch.

"Uhm…No" Li Mo Zhen whimper.

"Then what you mean?" Yang Xi Ying stares at him with bloodshot eyes.

"No…I mean...I mean, you should not care about that, I mean you are beautiful so why bother with that"

"Don't bother if I get FAT?" Yang Xi Ying's voice grew colder as Li Mo Zhen sweated more and more.

Lory looked at Li Mo Zhen with pity and she shook her head, 'Dude, just shut up!'

Refused to be a drag in whirlwind Lory nudges her arms "let's go now!" she whispered.

"Hm, let's go!" he agreed with Lory.

Lory grab Zhao Li Xin's hand and storm to exit the room, Yang Xi Ying saw lory left then shouted

"Where are you going Lory?" she shouted.

"RETREAT!" Lory shouted back.

Yang Xi Ying's anger flared up, not only did Li Mo Zhen irritate her, but he also ruined their 'ladies times'. Yang Xi Ying then glared angrily at him, Li Mo Zhen knew that 'look' it was the same look she gave her before she stabbed him the first time they met, Li Mo Zhen quickly explained himself "Not my fault, Dear, Zhao Li Xin was the one who insisted on coming here!" He shamelessly used Zhao Li Xin as a shield.

Yang Xi Ying snorted in disdain, she didn't doubt Li Mo Zhen's words, after all, she had already seen how clingy Zhao Li Xin was with Lory. Yang Xi Ying clicked her tongue in annoyance, "What a clingy man!"

Li Mo Zhen thought he had saved himself from danger so he smiled brightly "I agree, my Dear, here, let me feed you while you checking the account book" he pinched the soft cake with chopsticks as he ready to feed his beloved wife.

"Didn't you say I was fat earlier?" she glared at him again.

"…." The chopstick froze in midair.