Chapter 28 - Adamant Walls

Long Jie returned to his office from working on a high-fidelity prototype with his team, where they became closer to completing the first model of the canisters they wanted to build.

Long Jie looked over some reports when his assistant entered the room abruptly, leaving a letter on his desk without saying a word before leaving. His eyes darted towards it; there was no information over the white envelope from the sender, so Long Jie skeptically picked it up.

His brows rose as he opened it, breaking the seal, taking out a delicately written letter. He read over the words, and reread it. Long Jie registered the words, and like the last time, he felt mildly threatened.

It wasn't the first time receiving threats or warnings, and he initially did not take it seriously. No one had anything over him; therefore, why should he be scared of someone trying to ruin Long Group? It was next to impossible.

However, he began to notice some changes within the company lately, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. He also wasn't sure who he should trust or not. Attitudes in some of his people began to shift, and he couldn't tell what it was. But he couldn't just fire everyone either. If his company had been breached, he needed to keep them to weed them out.

Attached to the brief letter was something he didn't know could frighten him. Attached, was a photograph of Song Luli. It was recent. It was a photo of her getting out of the car in the parking lot at Song Entertainment. She was wearing formal clothing; her cropped hair swayed against her shoulders, her expression unrelaxed and knitted, typical of his wife.

Long Jie knew he wasn't entirely secretive with his marriage to Song Luli, but that's because he did not care who knew or not, but what he did not expect was for someone to threaten him with her. She had nothing to do with it, and it irritated him. The audacity, he thought.

Since Song Luli was bound to him, Long Jie felt it was his responsibility to protect her in any way he can.

He slumped in his seat, exhaling deeply, glancing at the photo once more.

He wasn't sure if he would admit this to her, but he admired Song Luli. Despite going through a rough patch, she didn't cower or give up. She persisted and even gave up love for the sake of duty. It was the same reason he gave up that possibility, too.

'Love is irrelevant to people like us,' she said to him once. Long Jie grinned at the memory.

Song Luli was indeed an irritating thing, something he could not quite shake.

Feeling agitated, Long Jie rubbed his temples, trying to reduce the mild stress he was experiencing when he heard a knock from the door. He turned from his seat, viewing the person at the doorframe. It was Han Ru.

Long Jie grinned, and his friend entered, sitting down on the cushioned seat in front of him.

Long Jie had invited him over to discuss some matters over the business. Since Han Ru ran a Commerical banking operation, he provided financial advice and services for him when he needed it.

"What do you need from me?" Han Ru asked him, prepared to help.

"I want to give my wife, some ownership over Long Group."

Han Ru's eyes widened. "What?" he asked Long Jie, wanting him to repeat it.

"I said, I want to give my wife shares," he said.

"How many?" Han Ru asked.

"10%," Long Jie said.

Han Ru scoffed. "That is way too many, especially for Long Group," he said. "It's unrealistic."

"8% then," Long Jie said.

Han Ru sighed. "Where did you even pull out that number?"

Lone Jie gave him a weighing look as if to tell his friend, not to ask.

"I didn't think you would take your marriage seriously. It wasn't long ago when I had to remind you how important your marriage meeting was, and you wanted to send her away," Han Ru said.

Long Jie gave out a short laugh. "I remember," he said. "But she was the only one who gave me a proper answer to a good question."

"I see," Han Ru responded.

The silence stretched between them before Han Ru leaned forward a bit. "Do you love your wife?" he asked curiously.

Long Jie glanced at him blankly. He leaned back in his chair in a relaxing posture. "No," he answered, "But I do have great respect for her."

Han Ru nodded slow, grinning at him. "As expected of Long Jie," he commented.

Long Jie smiled. "I can't help it. I'm not capable of being husband material, and I know my wife feels the same way."

"Oh?" Han Ru responded. "She doesn't pine after you?"

Long Jie shook his head. "No, it's a mutual pact we share. We work and respect each other's boundaries while maintaining a business-related relationship."

Han Ru chuckled. "It sounds like you," he said.

But it didn't sound like Song Luli, Han Ru thought. Back then, she was a girl who had just enrolled in school during his senior year. She wasn't ugly, but she wasn't particularly beautiful either until now.

She, like others, chased after him. He admired her bold confession years ago, but he didn't know her that well, except that she was the daughter of Song Sheng and the sister of the beautiful Song Meiling. Song Meiling had captured his attention, but she wasn't interested in him at all, perhaps to spare the feelings her younger sister had for him.

He wasn't sure why, but something about Song Luli's energy had changed, shifted. She wasn't the shy, naïve girl he knew before. Something about her told she had adamant walls, protecting the citadel from a siege or invasion. She was in control, and Han Ru felt as if he made a mistake. But he'd rather keep it to himself.