Dinner was smoothly prepared, and before anyone knew it, the sun had already set on the horizon. Liu Shan and Liu Jingyi cleared the table while Liu Ye offered to wash the dishes.

Yue Ling stood in front of the vast floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, and she stared out into the darkness.

"Boss, are you alright?"

Lin Hui couldn't help but ask when he noticed something was bothering his boss.

Throughout the entire time they were eating, she didn't talk much and kept glancing at the clock on the wall. It was as if she was waiting for something.

He could even sense a feeling of worry in her expression.

Yue Ling doesn't respond right away but gazes out the window. She calmly turns away and looks at her subordinate.

"I'm fine."

She looked at the kitchen to see Liu Shan, Liu Ye, and Liu Jingyi, then to Jianan, who sat on the couch playing with a stuffed teddy bear. Her eyes shift back to Lin Hui, and she gives him a small smile.

"Will you be leaving soon?"

Lin Hui ever so lightly squints his eyes at her as if to read her mind. However, unable to do so, he could only push the topic aside.

"I'll leave after giving you my report on the situation regarding you know who."

Hearing his words, Yue Ling wasted no time. She looks at Jianan again then gestures with her head for them to go to the back patio.

As the boss and subordinate walked out the back door, Liu Shan noticed this. He was curious about why they needed to talk in private but didn't focus too much on his curiosity.

"What happened?"

Outside in the back courtyard, Yue Ling asked the second she knew those inside the house wouldn't hear their voices. Usually, she would have Lin Hui report in front of others, but this time it was different.

She didn't want the Liu siblings to hear what happened to their father.

Lin Hui walks over to the bench set on the back patio and sighs. He looks up at her then shrugs his shoulder with indifference.

"Not much. I gave him a bit of a beating, then kicked him here and there. You know, just the usual things."

He spoke in a carefree way, and anyone who heard him would think beating up a person was a normal thing for him.

However, Yue Ling was not anyone.

She stares at him with a straight face making him sigh again.

"I caught him before he entered Red Moon, but Tao Meng and his men came out when they heard the commotion."

Yue Ling stares ahead at the yard that was engulfed in darkness. She didn't say anything but listened to his report until the end.

"A little dispute happened between us, but I got it under control."

Lin Hui told her everything that happened in front of Red Moon without missing any details. He also included how he shot Liu Peng in the leg.

He looked around as if to see if anyone was around. Once he confirmed that it was only them, he leaned forward to whisper to her.

"Also, Ling Ni was there."

Yue Ling arched an eyebrow at the mention of Ling Ni. She knew why Lin Hui was trying to keep a quiet voice because Liu Shan was inside, and neither of them wanted to mention Ling Ni's name in front of the assistant.

"Don't tell Liu Shan that you saw her."

She wasn't surprised that Ling Ni was there at Red Moon, but who knows how he would feel or what he would do if Liu Shan heard.

"Continue observing his every move. If he causes any more trouble, you know what to do."

A sigh escapes her mouth, and she turns away since the report is over. She walks to the door but stops before entering the house.

Her head turns to the side, enough for her to look back at Lin Hui.

"And don't think so little of yourself. Your life matters too."

Her words fell, and she opened the door to go inside the house, leaving Lin Hui alone outside.

He sat on the bench, and his head followed her every move as he could see her from the window. It wasn't until he saw her sit down with Jianan in the living room did he look away.

His head lowers, and he rubs his forehead to adjust his thoughts with his eyes closed.

He knew his boss was angry. She was mad that he put his life in jeopardy despite knowing that one phone call could have sent back up to him. However, at the time, he just jumped into action without thinking.

*Click

A sudden click sounds from the door, and he lifts his head. When he saw who it was that had come out from the house, he sighed inside.

"I guess you heard the conversation."

Liu Shan stood in front of Lin Hui with an expression void of any emotions. He walks over to sit next to the man on the bench.

"So you went there alone?"

Lin Hui arched an eyebrow at the man. He thought that Liu Shan would ask about Ling Ni. However, seeing how the man didn't ask, he nods his head and sits up.

He leaned back on the bench and held his hands on his lap.

"I did what I was told to do."

He was assigned to keep a close eye on Liu Peng, and if he (Liu Peng) did anything out of sorts, he (Lin Hui) is to take action.

At first, he didn't think he needed to do anything but keep his eyes open. However, when Yue Ling instructed him to shatter the man's fate, he just did as told.

"You can be reckless at times, but this time you were foolish."

Liu Shan scoffs after his words and leans back on the bench too. He stares at the blank space in front of him.

He didn't mean to listen to their conversation. He just happened to hear it when he walked past the kitchen window that was left open while they were cooking dinner.

"Do you consider your life so little that you would do something so stupid? Why would you go to Red Moon alone?"

Lin Hui heard his words loud and clear. He heaves a long sigh out of frustration and rubs his forehead.

"I get what you're trying to say, but what was I supposed to do? I couldn't let him out of my sight."

He leans back on the bench and tilts his head back to look up at the starry sky.

"Before my rationality made any sense, my body just moved. I did what I did because it's part of my job."

Liu Shan sighs inside at his friend and comrade. He also leans on the bench but doesn't look up at the sky. Instead, he turns his head in the direction of the house, where he can see Yue Ling and Jianan in the living room.

"You know that she doesn't always show it, but she worries about everyone, including you."

He knew that although Yue Ling doesn't express much emotion towards him and the others, she always puts them first.

"Even if it is your job, you're only human, and you have people who care about you."

Lin Hui understood the meaning behind Liu Shan's words. He has been Yue Ling's subordinate for many years and knows how she is as a person.

The only thing was, he didn't think about the aftermath when he followed Liu Peng.

He glances in the direction of the house and ponders to himself.

His mind wanders back to what she said before going inside. He could tell that she was angry that he went alone. She might not have shown it, but he could hear it in her words.

"I won't make her worry anymore."

Liu Shan nods his head without a word, and the two men stay outside to chat for a bit longer before going inside.

"Boss, it's getting late. We're going to head home."

Lin Hui calls out as he steps foot inside the living room. He looks around and sees the two older Liu siblings still awake while Jianan had fallen asleep.

"Um, if it's alright with you, they can spend the night at my place."

Yue Ling sat on the couch with Jianan sleeping next to her. She looks at the little boy and faintly smiles at his sleeping face.

"He's asleep, so just let him sleep here."

"Ah, it's okay. We can go stay at Lin Hui's place."

After her words, Liu Ye cuts in and sits up from the couch. He smiled at Yue Ling and stood up while bringing his sister with him. He doesn't want them to be a bother to her, who is busy with work.

"Jingyi, let's go get our things."

Yue Ling was at a loss for words. Before she could even say anything to stop the older siblings, they had already scurried off to the guest bedroom.

She chuckles and turns her head to Lin Hui, who had made the suggestion. However, the second her eyes landed on him, he had already picked up Jianan from the couch.

"Don't worry. I'll keep them safe so you can concentrate on work."

Lin Hui smiles at her and walks away as Liu Ye and Liu Jingyi return with their packed bags. No one left any room for Yue Ling to speak and disappear out the door.

"…"

Left alone with quietness, Yue Ling was in disbelief by what had just happened. She scoffs a chuckle and shakes her head.

She reached for her phone that was on the coffee table. When she saw that the time was already 8 pm, she pursed her lip.

It was past the promised time.

"Should I call him?"

She unlocks her phone and pulls up her contact list.

However, she doesn't call the person.

She stares down at her phone for a long second, then puts it back on the table.

"He must have his reasons."

She murmured to herself, then stood up to leave the living room. Since she's alone, she should get ready for bed early.

As she climbed up the stairs, she didn't forget to steal glances at the front door. However, every time she looked, the door never opened, making her disappointed.

"I hope he comes home soon. I miss him...."

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