Chapter 22: Chu Lingshuang Has Returned!

Since he had no idea where Li Hao lived and the man slept like the dead, impossible to wake, Lin Feng simply had Liu Tianhan take him straight to the company. He settled Li Hao in the security office’s break room, threw a blanket over him, and only then returned to the car.

“Sir, what about her?” Liu Tianhan asked, glancing at the rearview mirror.

Seeing that Xia Qingqing was breathing steadily and clearly fast asleep, Lin Feng replied helplessly, “Find a hotel. She’s a young woman—it wouldn’t be appropriate to leave her in the security room.”

That one sentence alone made Liu Tianhan warm to him. Indeed, to be thoughtful about such things—Lin Feng was quite the gentleman.

Having spent the past few days together, Liu Tianhan had grown accustomed to their daily banter. Driving, she continued, “No wonder my lady has taken a liking to you. You really are a good man!”

Compliments aside, why drag Chu Lingshuang into this? Lin Feng’s brow furrowed in displeasure. Tonight had only reinforced his desire to escape her grasp—without the restrictions of Chu Lingshuang, he could do as he pleased. Life would be blissful.

Just the thought of it put him in a rare good mood, and he found himself chatting with Liu Tianhan. “How long have you been working for the Chu family?”

Liu Tianhan, never one to keep her mouth shut, answered directly, “Not that long, really. The Chu family sponsored my education when I was young. After studying abroad, I came back and stayed with them.”

The Chu family sponsored her? Lin Feng’s brows knit together—truly the workings of a great family, planning for the long term. Their closest servants must have been with them since childhood.

He gave a casual “Oh? Which university did you attend?”

“In England,” Liu Tianhan replied. “I almost didn’t go because the tuition was too high, but my lady told me to just focus on my studies and not worry about the money.”

She turned and smiled, “See? My lady is really a good person.”

If it wasn’t so dark in the car, Liu Tianhan would have seen the wordless exasperation written all over Lin Feng’s face.

A good person? Good, my foot!

He couldn’t even be bothered to argue and just asked, “Never thought of working elsewhere?”

“How could I?” Liu Tianhan shrugged. “Half the city is under my lady’s sway. Besides, I make two hundred thousand a month, not counting her bonuses. I drive a bit, the rest of the time is mine. Where else could I find such a job?”

Lin Feng fell silent. Indeed, it was hard enough to find work—even in a small county, let alone the capital.

As they chatted, Liu Tianhan pulled up to the Huafu Hotel, the closest one to the company. She parked and got out to open the door for Lin Feng.

Lin Feng cradled Xia Qingqing and followed Liu Tianhan inside. As soon as they entered, the hotel’s doorman hurried over. “Good evening, Miss Liu.”

Lin Feng’s mouth twitched—clearly, everyone around here knew Liu Tianhan.

He instinctively edged a little farther from her.

Liu Tianhan nodded and gestured at Xia Qingqing. “She’s a company employee, had a bit too much to drink. Please open a king room.”

The doorman quickly went to prepare the room key. Lin Feng had to admit—this was the efficiency of the Chu family, leaving nothing to be criticized.

Within minutes, the key was ready. Liu Tianhan led the way, unlocked the room, and motioned for Lin Feng to enter.

He nodded, carried Xia Qingqing in, tucked her into bed, and only then did they leave.

It was nearly one o’clock by the time they approached Lakeview Manor. After holding her tongue the whole way, Liu Tianhan finally couldn’t resist speaking up.

“Sir, could I ask a favor?”

“What is it?”

“You have the day off tomorrow, right? If you’re going out, could you at least not leave in the morning?”

Even in the darkness, her pleading tone was unmistakable. Knowing she’d been driving all day and needed to catch up on sleep, Lin Feng nodded. “No problem.”

“Thank you so much!” Liu Tianhan was exhilarated, flooring the accelerator. In just three minutes, they reached the gates of the manor.

As they entered the garden, Lin Feng noticed the villa lights still on in the distance. His heart skipped a beat. “Why are the lights still on at this hour?” he asked, hinting at whether Chu Lingshuang had returned.

Liu Tianhan, unbothered, explained, “The lights here stay on twenty-four hours a day. Only the bedrooms are turned off.”

As she spoke, the car drew closer to the villa. Lin Feng glanced up—the bedroom windows were indeed dark.

He finally relaxed.

At the villa entrance, Liu Tianhan waited for him to get out before driving away.

Inside, Mrs. Wang appeared, bundled in her coat and half asleep. “Sir, why are you back so late?”

He hadn’t expected Mrs. Wang to stay up—he was genuinely touched.

“Mrs. Wang, you shouldn’t have waited up for me,” he said gently.

“Miss’s instructions,” she replied, struggling to keep her eyes open but still smiling.

And just like that, Lin Feng’s fleeting warmth vanished.

Mrs. Wang rubbed her hands together, blowing into them for warmth. “Would you like a late-night snack?”

He had no such habit of troubling others at this hour. Shaking his head, he said, “No, Mrs. Wang, you should rest. I already ate. I’ll just wash up and go to bed.”

“Very well.” Mrs. Wang nodded gratefully and watched Lin Feng go upstairs before retiring herself.

Climbing the long, winding staircase, Lin Feng reached the second floor. But as he pushed open the door, he froze in his tracks.

There, draped in a white silk nightgown, Chu Lingshuang lounged lazily on the sofa behind the coffee table, a thick English book resting on her lap. Her slender, fair legs crossed elegantly as she turned the pages with a cold and distant expression.

The warm, golden light bathed her, making her appear like a noble, untouchable goddess.

This serene yet intimidating scene sent chills down Lin Feng’s spine.

“You’re back?” Her cool voice echoed faintly through the room, making Lin Feng’s body tense.

He had never imagined that after being away for days, Chu Lingshuang would return tonight.

Of course—she’d been watching him. She probably knew everything that had happened tonight.

His throat tightened, fear of her punishment creeping in.

But as memories of the bustling city, the freedom he’d tasted, flashed through his mind, he calmed instantly.

What was there to fear?

He was a grown man—what could she possibly do to him?

He responded with a calm “Mm,” about to say he would sleep in the living room tonight.

But before he could, Chu Lingshuang spoke first.

“Go take a shower,” she commanded, not even glancing up, still half-reclined on the sofa, issuing her orders.