The room was quiet except for the slow rhythm of breathing.
Julie lay curled up in Luo Zheng's arms, her small warm hands still loosely wrapped around his waist, as if even in sleep she was afraid he might leave. Her breathing had already grown soft and uneven, carrying the exhaustion of the previous night.
A faint trace of tears still lingered at the corners of her eyes.
Looking at her, Luo Zheng let out a helpless sigh.
This woman had truly been too reckless.
By the time she woke up tomorrow, she would definitely regret last night's stubbornness. Whether she would even be able to walk properly the next day was another matter entirely.
Still, he said nothing.
He simply looked out through the half-open curtains as the pale morning light slowly spread across New York.
The next morning, at the airport.
A black car came to a steady stop near the departure gate.
Luo Zheng stepped out first, adjusting the cuffs of his coat. Behind him, two tall men in black suits followed with luggage in hand.
They looked imposing enough to make passersby instinctively step aside.
Although China was far safer than America, status was something one often created for oneself.
He was, after all, the chairman of a listed company.
Traveling with two bodyguards was already modest by his standards.
He had barely taken a few steps when his phone vibrated.
Glancing at the screen, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he looked toward the distance.
About three hundred meters away, a black Mercedes slowly rolled to a stop.
The rear door opened.
Liu Xiaoli stepped out first.
Beside her, Xixi followed, carrying a small bag and looking around curiously.
But what caught Luo Zheng's attention was the man who got out from the driver's side.
Chen Jinfei.
The old fox himself.
So that was it.
No wonder Liu Xiaoli had refused his suggestion to travel together.
She already had arrangements.
For a brief moment, Luo Zheng's expression darkened.
Then he remembered that Xixi had already secretly tipped him off earlier.
Good girl.
At least she still trusted him more.
From the way things were developing, it seemed his uncle's decision to give up on this marriage had been the wisest move he could have made.
Without another glance, Luo Zheng turned and entered the airport.
All three of them were on the same flight.
And he had already decided—
he would settle this matter with Liu Xiaoli on the plane.
Two hours later.
The aircraft had already stabilized at cruising altitude.
Luo Zheng rose from his first-class seat and made his way toward business class.
Xixi looked up in surprise when she saw him.
"Cousin?"
He smiled.
"Switch seats with me."
Her eyes instantly lit up.
Without asking any questions, she happily unbuckled her seatbelt and moved.
During the entire exchange, Liu Xiaoli had her eyes closed, resting.
She noticed nothing.
She could never have imagined that her daughter's loyalty had long since shifted completely toward Luo Zheng.
Once seated beside her, Luo Zheng leaned back comfortably.
Then he spoke in a calm voice.
"Auntie."
Liu Xiaoli's eyes snapped open.
The moment she saw him sitting beside her, shock flashed across her face.
"How did you—"
She stopped herself midway.
Her brows knitted tightly.
She had confiscated Xixi's phone for days precisely to avoid this brat interfering.
So how had he still ended up on the same flight?
Was it coincidence?
Or something else?
Luo Zheng smiled faintly.
"Your brows are furrowed so tightly."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Feeling guilty?"
Liu Xiaoli's expression instantly darkened.
"What do you want to say?"
Her tone was sharp, already defensive.
Luo Zheng did not answer immediately.
Instead, he leaned back and said quietly,
"I looked into Chen Jinfei."
The moment the name was spoken, her face changed.
"He's worth over two hundred million dollars and even made the mainland Forbes list."
He paused.
"But aside from money, he has no real entertainment-industry resources worth speaking of."
His gaze sharpened.
"Auntie, don't let yourself be fooled by him."
Liu Xiaoli's anger flared immediately.
"Are you spying on me?"
Her voice rose sharply enough to draw the attention of nearby passengers.
Realizing it, she quickly lowered her volume.
But the anger in her eyes only deepened.
Luo Zheng's tone remained calm.
"No."
"I merely arranged for someone to keep an eye on Xixi's safety."
Then his voice suddenly turned cold.
"After all, no one knows how filthy an old man's thoughts can be."
Liu Xiaoli clenched her fists.
"Don't talk nonsense."
"I only intended for Xixi to acknowledge him as a godfather."
"Don't make everything sound so disgusting."
Luo Zheng let out a cold laugh.
"Godfather?"
He looked directly at her.
"You've never been this attentive even toward my uncle."
His voice grew sharper.
"To put it bluntly, isn't this all because he promised to use his resources to push Xixi into stardom?"
Each word struck like a hammer.
"But do you really think you can control someone like him?"
"Are you not afraid that by the time you realize the cost, it'll already be too late?"
Liu Xiaoli's lips trembled slightly.
Because every word hit the truth.
Was she doing this for herself?
No.
Everything was for Xixi.
But that was exactly why she had been willing to compromise so much.
Luo Zheng understood men like Chen Jinfei too well.
Wealthy.
Powerful.
Experienced.
Men like that never gave without wanting something in return.
Pure kindness?
Impossible.
Use someone.
Discard them.
Move to the next.
That was the real pattern.
Liu Xiaoli took a slow breath.
Her voice turned icy.
"You have no right to interfere in my daughter's future."
Luo Zheng smiled faintly.
Then he delivered the killing blow.
"I know you're preparing to divorce my uncle."
Her body stiffened.
"That was one of Chen Jinfei's conditions, wasn't it?"
Silence.
He leaned closer.
"Even if you no longer care about your own reputation…"
"What about Xixi's?"
His eyes narrowed.
"You know very well what the word godfather means in this industry."
At that, Luo Zheng calmly took out an envelope.
Liu Xiaoli's pupils contracted.
Even without opening it, she already had a terrible guess.
Inside.
Divorce papers.
Photos.
Evidence.
He placed it gently on her lap.
"My uncle's signed divorce consent form."
"And a few photos I happened to take."
Then he added,
"Don't worry. There are no copies."
"They're all in there."
"How you handle it is up to you."
As he handed it over, his fingers lightly brushed against the back of her hand.
Her skin was smooth and delicate.
Far too youthful for someone her age.
Then Luo Zheng spoke in a voice that allowed no argument.
"From now on, I will protect Xixi."
He paused.
"This trip to Beijing is for cooperation talks with China Film Group."
"I'm taking her with me."
This was not just a statement.
It was proof.
He wanted Liu Xiaoli to understand that he had the ability to open doors for Xixi without relying on old men like Chen Jinfei.
After a long silence, Liu Xiaoli finally took the envelope and placed it into her bag.
She did not open it.
She didn't need to.
For Luo Zheng, that was enough.
This meant she had yielded.
This round—
he had won completely.
He would never allow Xixi to acknowledge Chen Jinfei as some so-called godfather.
His younger cousin would be protected by him.
Only him.
Even after the plane began descending, Liu Xiaoli remained lost in thought.
She looked at Xixi's innocent face.
Then thought of Luo Zheng's hateful yet strangely reliable expression.
For one terrifying moment, she even felt that perhaps letting Chen Jinfei become Xixi's godfather would have been less dangerous than letting Luo Zheng stay this close.
The thought made her heart race.
She quickly pushed it away.
After what Luo Zheng had said, she had already made up her mind.
She would cut ties with Chen Jinfei.
Completely.
The risks were simply too great.
Especially if that old man's attention ever shifted from her to Xixi…
A cold sweat ran down her spine.
"Mom?"
Xixi leaned closer.
"Are you not feeling well?"
"I'm fine."
Liu Xiaoli straightened herself.
"Sit properly. We're about to land."
"Oh…"
Then Xixi brightened.
"After we get off, can we go find Cousin?"
Before she could finish, Liu Xiaoli answered directly.
"Yes."
"We'll go find him."
Xixi froze for a second.
Then her face lit up with joy.
"Really?"
"Mom, you finally like Cousin now!"
She nearly jumped from her seat before being pulled back by the seatbelt.
"Sit properly!"
Liu Xiaoli scolded, though her voice carried less anger than before.
When the plane landed and they stepped onto the airport tarmac, even Luo Zheng was briefly stunned.
A line of Hongqi sedans stood parked in perfect formation.
Several officials in formal attire were already waiting.
At the very front stood a figure whose presence alone drew attention.
Luo Zheng narrowed his eyes.
China Film Group had truly gone all out.
Liu Xiaoli was equally shocked.
Who exactly was being received with such grandeur?
A full row of Hongqi cars…
In Beijing, this kind of reception meant real influence.
Even the surrounding passengers had stopped to stare.
Some whispered among themselves.
"Is some major foreign dignitary arriving?"
"But on a commercial flight?"
Impossible.
Everyone was curious.
At that moment, Luo Zheng calmly reached out and took Xixi's soft hand.
Then, with a composed expression, he walked straight toward the waiting convoy.