Chapter 132

Lily's mood was light as she swung her legs after a good nap. "Business is business. If there's an opportunity for collaboration, I'll cooperate. Who wouldn't want to make money? But privately, we won't get too close."

She was quite worried about Selena. "I think Zhang Zhen has ill intentions. If Selena doesn't leave her soon, she'll be dragged down eventually. Luckily, she met kind and excellent me today. If it were someone with a bad temper, they'd never let her off."

Aria sighed. "Kind and excellent, good-tempered. You truly are, I agree."

Despite her exasperation, Aria was relieved. This level of narcissism meant Lily was fine. She brought up Selena's facial injury, "She still needs to go back to filming. You said you'd handle Director Mei's side for her. Are you going to ask Edmond for help?"

"Of course not." Lily shook her head vehemently, righteously. "To resolve this, I need to ask for a favor. My husband can only ask favors for me, not for another woman. I'm petty, jealous, and possessive."

Aria was silent for a moment. She didn't banter with Lily, instead probing, "Are you really going to call? Do you dare?"

Lily didn't respond immediately. After hanging up the video call, she hesitated for almost half an hour before finally taking a deep breath and dialing a number. "Auntie..."

When Edmond came back, Lily was running barefoot around the bedroom. Lap after lap, she'd stop to catch her breath, doing stretches and squats, looking unusually excited.

"The doctor told you to rest more. Why are you exercising so late at night?" Edmond closed the door and directly scooped up Lily, who was bending over. Startled, she clung to his neck, hearing the reprimand in his voice, and kissed his cheek.

"I'm fine, my arm doesn't hurt much anymore." That afternoon, she'd listened to the doctor's lengthy instructions and felt it was just a dislocation. It would be fine after resetting, no need for a month to recover.

Edmond set her on the bed, his slender fingers tapping her forehead, his handsome face serious. "Follow the doctor's orders."

Lily smiled and agreed, pulling him to sit beside her, still beaming with joy. "I wasn't exercising, I was just too happy and needed to relax."

Seeing her in such a good mood, Edmond smiled too, curious. "What made you so happy?"

Lily climbed onto his lap, cupping his face with her hands, kissing his sexy lips repeatedly, her voice filled with joy. "My aunt scolded me just now... She scolded me! She hasn't talked to me in so long, I thought she didn't love me anymore. I called her and explained that Selena got hurt saving me, asking her not to blame Selena."

"She asked if I was hurt. I said my shoulder hurt, and she scolded me, called me stupid for not seeking her help for my own problems, but only for others'." Lily's aunt was the famous and eccentric Director Mei. Edmond knew about her but didn't know the specifics of Lily's relationship with her. He didn't ask, just held her and comforted her for a long time until she calmed down.

Lily leaned softly against him, her eyes bright, hands around his neck, giving him a heartfelt kiss. "Edmond, today I realized how good you are to me. When Zhang Zhen scolded me, I kept thinking about you, about all the things since our marriage, and I realized you've been so good to me."

She said, "Edmond, I really, really like you."

Edmond deepened the kiss.

The next morning, Lily was awakened by her phone ringing. It was Leopold. "Lily, there's trouble at home. Can you come back?"

It took Leopold twenty minutes to explain everything. L&S Group's Shenghui Real Estate Company had an issue with their new development. Allegedly, someone reported problems with the underfloor heating installation, claiming the person in charge took kickbacks and used substandard materials. The evidence, including videos and photos, was sent to a TV station reporter. The responsible person tried to bribe the reporter, who refused. During the meeting, the person in charge assaulted the reporter.

By the time Brooks and Leopold heard about it, it was already too late. The reporter was in the hospital, vowing to expose the issue. Even Brooks' personal visit and apology didn't help. The situation escalated among the homeowners, who demanded a resolution.

The solution proposed by the headquarters was to fire the responsible person and redo all the non-compliant underfloor heating. They wanted to settle the matter quietly, hoping the reporter wouldn't publicize it. Unfortunately, the evidence was with a stubborn reporter named Sun, known for his integrity and refusal to be bought.

Brooks, worried, thought of Edmond, hoping his connections at the TV station could help. He intended to visit Edmond personally but sent Leopold first. After being rebuffed by Edmond, Leopold called Lily.

When Lily went downstairs, Edmond had just returned from his run. "Leopold called me."

After explaining the situation, Edmond wasn't surprised. He put his arm around her, smiling. "Do you want more shares in L&S?"

Lily was intrigued. "What?"

Learning she could get L&S shares made Lily eager. "I just scolded Leopold over the phone, saying I'd help if they gave me Zoya's shares. He hung up in anger."

During breakfast, Lily couldn't stop talking, praising Edmond. "Edmond, he hung up on me. You're the best, you never hang up on me, always let me hang up first."

Edmond took a napkin, holding her hand to wipe a grain of millet off her finger, seizing the opportunity to make a request. "Knowing I'm good, care for me more. When you go out, let the driver act as a bodyguard. He gets double pay, so don't feel embarrassed. If something happens to you again, I can't handle it."

Lily's eyes sparkled, finding the morning porridge exceptionally sweet. "Okay."

After breakfast, Lily prepared to return to the Jian family. Edmond stopped her, saying, "When asking for a favor, you should do it properly. How can you ask for help with such an attitude, not even going in person?"

---

"You should ignore him for now, let him wait. Reporter Sun is getting out of the hospital tomorrow, so Leopold will call you again at the latest tomorrow."

Knowing the Jian family, Lily predicted that Leopold wouldn't call today after being scolded in the morning. It would be tomorrow. The situation was too serious for Old Jian to sleep well. Normally, he'd be blowing up her phone, but after she berated him and Edmond didn't include him in the amusement park project, he was both angry and guilty. Though her biological father, he couldn't bring himself to ask her directly.

So, he sent Leopold first, but Leopold failed. Old Jian, in his usual manner, would likely have Mei intervene next.

Sure enough, by ten o'clock, Lily received a call from Mei. "Lily, your security won't let me in. I'll hand the phone to him, can you talk to him?"

Since the New Year, Layla's main focus had been finding a daughter-in-law. She was recently stressed to the point of angina because Brooks had arranged a marriage with Wang Nian Nian, the youngest daughter of the Wang family. Brooks saw this as a strategic alliance, facilitating L&S Group's financing and loans through the bank controlled by the Wang family. Layla understood but disagreed, mainly due to Wang Nian Nian's poor health. She had yet to have a grandchild despite her son being thirty-one, while her peers already had grandchildren in school. Her first daughter-in-law couldn't conceive, and now this one might not either.

Layla had been trying to persuade her husband, which was exhausting. That morning, Brooks informed her about the L&S scandal, suggesting she talk to Lily. Although Layla was upset with Brooks, she understood the severity of a corporate scandal and came despite her anger. Initially, she planned to call, but Brooks warned her that Leopold's phone call had led to him being scolded and skipping breakfast. He suggested she visit Lily's studio for a face-to-face talk.

She arrived at the studio only to find Aria, who informed her that Lily was resting at home.

Lily had anticipated this and received a call from Aria half an hour earlier. She guessed that Mei would come to her home.

Layla only knew Lily lived in Huachun Mansion but not which building. The strict security wouldn't allow visitors without approval. Lily instructed the security to let her in, and Layla followed the directions to park her car.

The trunk was filled with items Brooks had personally loaded, including nutritional supplements and some antiques from his and Leopold's collection. "That rascal treats coming home like a robbery. I'm sending these over to make her happy, hoping it smooths things over when you talk."

In the past, Layla would have nagged about spoiling their already pampered daughter, but times had changed. Lily married Edmond, and L&S needed these gestures now. Lily accepted everything without hesitation.

Aunt Fang made coffee for Layla and prepared fruits for Lily before heading to the kitchen to prepare lunch. The housekeeper and servants tactfully left, leaving Lily and Layla alone in the living room.

Layla, exhausted from worrying about her son's marriage, didn't beat around the bush. "Your brother called you this morning. You know about L&S's issue, right? Your father hopes Edmond can talk to the TV station's leaders to persuade that reporter."

Aunt Fang cut the apple into small pieces.