Being Followed

It took a while for Xia Jiannan to recover his senses, his eyes staring intently at his phone's black screen, seemingly trying to bore holes in it.

"So what did Xiao Xi say?" Master Xia prodded. "Did she agree?"

Xia Jiannan's eyes snapped back up at his father and simply said a single word to answer his questions, "No."

Master Xia seemed to have expected this and merely nodded his head.

"You should learn how to date instead of always burying yourself with work."

With that, he stood up and pulled Madam Xia's hand. Together, they left Xia Jiannan staring dumbfounded at their backs as the sounds of their good-humored laughter filled the silent room.

Xia Jiannan could only shake his head at his parents' antics and sighed at himself for falling for his father's trap.

Standing up from his seat, he called for the maids to clean up the table as he pocketed his phone.

Just then, Xia Jiannan saw Wang Rouxi rush over to him from the porch outside while holding out her phone to him.

"Sir, a phone call for you." Her tone sounded urgent as a serious expression showed on her pale face.

Xia Jiannan turned his head slightly to look at her. "Who?"

"My brother." Wang Rouxi felt the need to elaborate and she continued, "He said that Second Young Master has fainted and Secretary Cheng is in no better condition as well."

Without another word, Xia Jiannan reached for the phone and pressed it on his ear. His voice was as calm as still water when he asked, "What happened?"

"To answer your question, Sir... we are being pursued by several unidentified vehicles as we speak... I apologize for creating a disturbance. What is your order, Sir?"

Xia Jiannan listened expressionlessly to Lu Sha's explanation and sank into silent contemplation, it was unknown what he was thinking at the moment.

Wang Rouxi watched as the man's expression remained unchanged but she could faintly feel the air around him turning colder by the second.

"Bring the Second Young Master and Secretary Cheng back." After he said that, Xia Jiannan passed the phone to Wang Rouxi and went to his room.

But halfway through the door of the dining room, he paused in his tracks and said without turning back, "Coordinate with them."

There's no need to ask who he was referring to. Wang Rouxi nodded her head even though Xia Jiannan could not see it and immediately left to assist Lu Sha.

"Yes, Sir!"

* * *

Secretary Cheng unknowingly started to bite his nails as he stared at the unusually quiet Xia Jinhu next to him.

The nervous Secretary Cheng could not really understand why his boss would entrust such an important matter to the Second Young Master.

He was not implying that Xia Jinhu was incompetent. It was just that, Xia Jiannan had been preparing for this proposal for almost a month now. It would be a huge loss if some unprecedented things happened.

"Vice CEO Xia..." Secretary Cheng could not help but call out. "If there is anything you don't understand, you can ask me."

Xia Jinhu did not even look at him as he continued to stare blankly at the proposal in his hand. It seemed that he did not hear him at all.

Secretary Cheng was really worried now. Seeing the listless expression on the Second Young Master's usually smiling face, he wanted to make a call and ask his boss to reconsider.

There's too much at stake here. Just by looking at Xia Jinhu's present state, the old secretary could already visualize what would happen in today's meeting with the Lu Corporation.

It could be much worse.

"Please fasten your seatbelts." An indifferent voice came through suddenly.

Although he didn't know for what reason, Secretary Cheng immediately complied. He then saw the bodyguard, who delegated himself as the driver, shifted the gears and stepped on the gas pedal, almost driving past the speed limit.

Without waiting for him to ask, Lu Sha informed him of their current situation. "We're being followed."

Xia Jinhu was so engrossed in his own little world that he did not manage to hear any of Lu Sha's statements.

Secretary Cheng could not take it anymore and tapped Xia Jinhu on his shoulder. "Second Young Master..."

"Hmm...?" Xia Jinhu slowly turned his head, his face white as a sheet which almost caused the old Secretary Cheng to have a heart attack.

"Are you okay, Second Young Master?" Just then, the car suddenly swerved to the left. Xia Jinhu almost slammed his head on to the car window if it wasn't for Secretary Cheng pulling him to his side. "Please buckle your seatbelt."

Xia Jinhu was visibly shaken and his already pale face turned a shade paler, if that was even possible. He weakly fumbled on his seatbelt and it took some time for him to buckle it up.

When he saw that the Second Young Master was not hurt, Secretary Cheng heaved a sigh of relief.

"Wait! We should have turned right at the previous intersection!" Secretary Cheng exclaimed.

Lu Sha just turned a deaf ear on Secretary Cheng's words as he shifted lanes, preparing to turn left, deviating from their intended path yet again.

Seeing that he was ruthlessly ignored, Secretary Cheng turned towards Xia Jinhu and said exasperatedly, "Second Young Master, please tell your brother's bodyguard that we should turn bac—"

But before he could finish, he noticed Xia Jinhu falling limply on his side!

"Second Young Master!"