179 Family Secrets

"Cut! Li Zhen, your expression is too stiff. Wu Min, you're blocking her face with your hand. Go over the script again. Fifteen minutes!" Lu Shaoting is in full work mode and it was not apparent that he had little sleep the night before.

His assistant bent to his level and whispered, "Director, Miss Jiang is here."

His eyebrows shot up and he turned his head towards the direction of the lady who was slowly approaching her.

Jiang Mei Ling smiled professionally to every staff and crew member who went and greeted her, concealing the brewing tension towards her husband beautifully. Her nude blush block heels clicked against the paved ground as her lavender chiffon halter dress moved like flowing water with every move she made.

"Director Lu." She bowed. Then she looked at her mother of pearl wrist watch. She gave him her usual smile. "It's almost lunchtime. Is it possible for you to extend the break and move the filming in the afternoon?"

The assistant almost blurted out his agreement. Everyone seemed tired and hungry anyway.

Lu Shaoting cleared his throat. "Guess it won't hurt." He turned to his assistant. "It's lunchbreak now. Be back half past one."

"Yes, Director Lu. I'll inform everyone." He bowed and went towards the crew.

Lu Shaoting tilted his head to signal his wife. Then they went to the deserted makeshift crew lounge.

As soon as nobody can see them, Jiang Mei Ling lost her sweet, professional smile.

"Where have you been the whole night?" she asked with a stern expression.

"My parents needed me for a dialogue."

A delicate palm landed hard on his cheek, leaving the clashing areas of skin both red and swollen.

"Save it. You were not in the Peach Villa." she declared accusingly.

Lu Shaoting had a subtle and swift shocked reaction, but Jiang Mei Ling caught every change in his expression as she was staring at him.

"Who is she?" Her eyes were steady.

"Her name is Romina Ta. I came to her place and spent the night." He chose to reveal the truth.

"Why?" she blurted through gritted teeth.

"She was greatly affected by the announcement of XCG. I...needed to be there for her."

"How did you know her?" She would probe further and would remain nonviolent as long as the person does not lie to her.

"You remember my Aunt Meixin?"

She furrowed her brows as she remembered that her father-in-law had an only sister who suffered dementia. "Hmmn." She nodded.

"Romina is the daughter she lost."

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Ming Xiaoyu flashed a nice smile bordered by bloody red lips.

Sitting opposite her is a middle-aged man with an obvious pattern baldness. He seemed nervous and a little out of sorts.

"Yang Jeong Cheol , it's been a long time." Her smile was both seductive and dangerous.

"Madam Ming...we...we didn't expect her to show herself to the Xiu's again." He took out his handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat on his forehead.

"Hmmm...how's your son?" She brushed off the statement as if she did not care.

"Uhmm...Jeonghan...he...he is good. He has good health. He takes good care of himself." He replied stuttering.

"Yang Jeong Cheol, why are you so nervous? You were not like this with me 33 years ago." Her tone was mocking him.

"Ming Xiaoyu, as I've confessed before, I was just paid to do it. Back then, my parents needed the money. I...I really didn't want to do it."

"You really didn't? Then how come you fathered my son who became the donor of your bastard then, huh? Didn't you enjoy torturing me with the rest of your friends?" Her face turned more livid as her lips contorted.

"I was wrong! I admit it! Please spare my family! Agatha did her part already! She went according to your plan!"

"But she exhumed herself from the dead. Why is that? What made her quit protecting your measely little lives?" She had a mocking smile.

"She...my wife told her the truth about not being our biological daughter."

"Tsk tsk...your taste in women really deteriorated. You even married an idi**. One day, the woman would cost you your lives."

"Please...please don't!" He knelt down on the cold floor abruptly. "I...I will do anything...Jeonghan had just recovered. Please spare us!" he pleaded.

"Of course I will not waste my son's marrow, so I will not touch him. However, if that adopted daughter of yours kept messing with my plans, I'll have no choice but to redeem damages from someone."