148 In the Name of Love

After a brief silence, Lu Yichen called her name.

Yuwei responded. A misty atmosphere seemed to flow through the phone line. This new mobile phone was her work number. As her business cards had been distributed everywhere, it was hardly a surprise that he managed to find her number.

"It's so late. Are you still awake?" His voice sounded somewhat hoarse.

"I was asleep, until you woke me up," Xia Yuwei retorted irritably. What did he mean by asking if she wasn't asleep yet? She had clearly been woken up by him...

Lu Yichen chuckled softly. "I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter. I can go right back to sleep after hanging up. —Did you call me to buy wine?" Hearing him apologize made her inexplicably angry. Xia Yuwei sat up, clutching a throw pillow.

"...... Weiwei ...... Go to sleep. Good night."

"...... Good night!" Xia Yuwei hung up the phone, tossed the pillow aside, and collapsed listlessly back onto the bed.

She really had to hand it to him! What kind of phone call was that? Waking her up when she was half-dead with fatigue, just to say sorry for waking her up, and then wishing her a good night?

Good heavens... How was this any different from a child's mischievous prank?

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Europe, the Cimiez district in Nice, France. Beside a tranquil lake and just outside a serene forest, it was five o'clock in the afternoon at the Lu family mansion. This was Lu Yichen's last day in Europe, and he had reserved the time for his parents, who were recuperating here.

Listening to the dial tone from the other end after the call was disconnected, it took a long time before Lu Yichen finally hung up his phone. There were so many things he wanted to say to her, yet she always kept him at arm's length. Was he wrong just for wanting to spare her from hardship and hoping she could live a happier, more carefree life? What on earth would it take for her to let him get close again? ...

"Young master, it's time for dinner," a servant knocked on the door and called out to him.

Lu Yichen rose and stepped out of his room. He was staying on the third floor. He walked straight down to his parents' room on the second floor.

His mother, Lin Yiqiong, was lying in bed, not yet up. Lu Jiacheng and a female servant were reaching out to help her.

Lin Yiqiong looked much more haggard now. Over the past year and more, relentless chemotherapy had caused her to age rapidly, and her hair had begun to thin. Yet, even in her characteristically cold and haughty demeanor, a trace of the formidable business woman's aura still lingered in her brows and eyes.

Seeing Lu Yichen enter, Lin Yiqiong offered him a smile, looking almost flattered. "Yichen, why did you come over?"

Ever since Shao Minghao, Shao Minghan's older brother, helped Lu Yichen recover his memories of Xia Yuwei a year ago, the relationship between Lu Yichen and his parents had plummeted to freezing point. Even now, they were hardly close.

"Mother," Lu Yichen said coldly. Even so, seeing his mother's condition did not make him feel any better.

She was the one who had nurtured him into who he was, and she was also the one who had nearly destroyed him.

To force him, in his stubbornness, to leave Xia Yuwei, she had stopped at nothing. In the name of love, she had groomed him to be the successor to the corporate empire.

After Lin Yiqiong fell ill, Lu Jiacheng had also grown considerably despondent. They had temporarily concealed her illness from the public solely to ensure the smooth handover of the Baili Group into Lu Yichen's hands.

He hated her. And after reuniting with Xia Yuwei, he resented her even more. Yet, she was now merely a gravely ill mother with not much time left to live. No matter how deep his hatred, he remained a scion of the Lu family and his mother's son.

"I went for chemotherapy today, and Dr. Belmondo said my recovery has been quite good lately. The environment here in Nice is truly restorative. You can leave tonight with a clear mind. Don't worry. Your father is here to take care of me," Lin Yiqiong said with a smile to Lu Yichen, who was standing at the doorway. She had already gotten to her feet. Dressed in simple homewear, she linked her arm through Lu Jiacheng's and began walking outward. At this moment, she bore no resemblance to a corporate titan. She was simply a woman belonging to her family.

Yichen uttered a brief acknowledgment and stepped aside, letting Lin Yiqiong and Lu Jiacheng walk ahead.

They finished dinner in silence. The servants had already prepared the luggage Lu Yichen needed for his departure.

"Dad, Mom, I'm leaving." After bidding farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Lu Jiacheng, Lu Yichen turned and walked away. The chauffeur was already waiting.

"Son..." Lin Yiqiong called out to him from the stairs.

Lu Yichen did not look back.

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The next day at noon.

Looking spirited and energetic, Lu Yichen appeared in the president's office at the headquarters of the Baili Group in City C, listening as Secretary Song reported on his itinerary for the coming days.

"..."

"At three o'clock this afternoon, meeting with President Jiang of Sihai Group to negotiate the acquisition contract; at seven o'clock tonight, attending the anniversary banquet of Weisheng Group..."

"..."

"Anything else?" Lu Yichen asked, looking at the documents in his hands.

Having finished reporting on official business, Secretary Song felt a great deal lighter. She glanced down at her notebook again. "Also, Miss Xia has requested an appointment to see you." Early that morning, Lin Jinxi had given her a heads-up. Had it not been for the lesson she learned last time, she would not dare to treat Xia Yuwei with such courtesy and importance. She had certainly not forgotten how the president had nearly fired her the last time she made Xia Yuwei wait for five hours because the president was caught in an important meeting.

Yichen lowered his head and signed his name on the document. "Cancel tonight's banquet!"

"But Weisheng Group is one of our important partners, and our strategic goals for this year are directly tied to our cooperation with them. Are you sure, President..."

"Just do as I say." Lu Yichen closed the document and tossed it onto the desk. Leaning back in his chair, he let out a long breath.