Zeng Rou soon arrived at the intersection of the bar district and immediately spotted Xia Tian. This time, she had driven herself.
"How have you been lately?" Zeng Rou asked gently once Xia Tian got into the car.
"I'm fine," Xia Tian replied calmly, "but you might be in serious trouble soon."
"I know. The family's been in crisis lately. Those old men all have their own agendas—they want me dead. As for how the shares will be divided after my death, I'm sure they've already made their plans." Zeng Rou's voice carried a quiet sadness.
"Then why are you still staying there? They could easily hire Liusha to deal with you. Once Liusha accepts a job, it's always a fight to the death," Xia Tian said, frowning in confusion.
"My daughter and I are powerless. It's only natural that we've had to endure some humiliation. I hold fifty-one percent of Zeng Group's shares, which makes me the largest shareholder. Once I die, those shares will go to my daughter. But Tiantian is still young—she doesn't understand any of this. When the time comes, those old men won't spare her either." Zeng Rou's eyes dimmed with sorrow.
"There are only two ways out of this," Xia Tian sighed. "Either you sell all your shares, or you get rid of those old men. Not only take their shares, but eliminate anyone bold enough to threaten you." He didn't want to resort to violence, but he knew that sometimes others forced your hand.
"Even if I sold my shares, they wouldn't let me go. That kind of money is enough to make anyone commit a crime," Zeng Rou said quietly.
"Then we'll have to find a way to deal with them," Xia Tian muttered, brows knitted.
"I don't want you doing anything illegal," Zeng Rou said firmly. "Just give me three days—I can dismantle their entire power structure." She had long known that the family elders would move against her, and she had been preparing for this moment ever since Tiantian's near car accident.
Together, those old men held less than thirty percent of the company. She had a plan to completely destroy their influence.
"Then I'll stay with you for the next three days," Xia Tian said. "With me here, no one will touch you."
"Hehe." Zeng Rou giggled softly. What made her happiest wasn't Xia Tian's protection—it was that she finally had an excuse to be close to him. She had never known how to approach him before.
Now, she finally had the chance.
"What are you laughing at?" Xia Tian glanced at her. Zeng Rou was the embodiment of mature beauty—every piece of clothing, every touch of makeup, perfectly balanced, not too much nor too little.
She exuded a quiet, alluring charm, like a ripe fruit waiting to be picked. Yet her beauty was guarded—surrounded by invisible thorns she had grown to protect herself. Those thorns vanished only when she was around Xia Tian.
"I'm just happy," Zeng Rou said softly. "When I'm happy, I smile." At that moment, her heart felt peaceful—she wanted nothing more than for Xia Tian to stay by her side.
Soon, the car arrived at Zeng Rou's home, a standalone villa.
A large iron gate stood at the entrance, guarded by security personnel.
As Xia Tian stepped out, he finally understood how wealthy Zeng Rou truly was.
"This place is huge," he said, glancing around.
"Do you like it? It'll be your home from now on," Zeng Rou said, handing him a set of keys. "These open every room in the villa. Take them."
"Why are you giving these to me?" Xia Tian asked, puzzled.
"In case something happens and you need to get into a room quickly—it'd be troublesome if you didn't have a key," Zeng Rou explained lightly. But deep down, she simply wanted him to see this place as his own home.
Inside, little Tiantian was running around under the nanny's care.
When she saw Xia Tian, she ran straight toward him.
"Brother, hug me!" she cried, reaching out. Tiantian adored Xia Tian—whenever danger struck, he was always the one who stepped in to protect her. She didn't understand much, but she knew that when Xia Tian was around, everything would be fine.
"Did you miss your brother?" Xia Tian asked with a smile, lifting her into his arms.
"I did," Tiantian said in her sweet, childish voice.
"Big brother just got here, Tiantian. Let him rest a bit," Zeng Rou said with a smile. Seeing the two together filled her heart with warmth.
"It's fine," Xia Tian replied. "Tiantian's so cute—if you didn't let me hold her, I'd be upset."
Zeng Rou sat beside them, her face glowing with happiness. For the first time in a long while, she felt a true sense of home. She didn't need to think about work, the scheming old men, or who might be plotting against her.
Both her body and mind felt completely at ease.
"Aunt Wang, you can go home and rest," Zeng Rou said.
"Yes, ma'am," Aunt Wang replied. She didn't live in the villa; a car came to pick her up and drop her off each day.