We found her

His wife?

Lu Jinchen's thoughts came to a brief pause. Had he already started considering her as his wife? Well, technically she was his wife—by obligation, by arrangement. Nothing more than a pretense to keep his mother happy. 

But then why didn't she come to him for help? 

Since they were already married, it was only natural for him to handle this. Destroying a company was as easy as breathing for him. If she had simply asked, he could have handled everything effortlessly.

Or did that thought never cross her mind? 

As for Gao Yiming's concern that she might harm herself…

Lu Jinchen snorted.

That crazy woman? The type to succumb?

No. He didn't know her well, but from the brief moment they interacted, his instinct told him otherwise. She wasn't the type to break. If anything, she would drag others into the abyss before letting herself fall.

Yet, despite all this, he couldn't shake the unease in his chest. An odd feeling filled his heart, a feeling of frustration, something deeper than irritation. Something he couldn't quite name.

His brows furrowed in thought, and for the first time in his life, Lu Jinchen found himself.... restless. Not over power. Not over the business but over the whereabouts of one maddening, unpredictable woman.

Before he realized it, he was already wondering, already worrying.

***

The next morning, Lu Jinchen sat in his office, staring at the file in front of him. His eyes were fixed on the pages, but his mind had already drifted away. He hadn't slept. Not a single wink. And for what? A woman who should have meant nothing to him.

Xia Yuqing.

He couldn't remember the last time a woman, besides his mother, possessed the ability to keep him awake.

Yet, Xia Yuqing had done it. 

Where could she be?

Gao Yiming had mobilized every resource and searched every corner of the city, yet there was no trace of her. It was as if she had vanished into thin air, swallowed by the night itself. There were no clues, no hints. No signs of where she might be.

It was as though she was deliberately hiding, almost as if daring him to find her.

Or perhaps she wasn't hiding at all?

What if Yiming was right? What if she… no.

Lu Jinchen clenched his jaw and shook his head. No. He refused to entertain that thought. Yet, as the minutes passed, his frustration grew. His hand curled into a fist before he slammed it against the desk, his voice a low growl.

"How hard can it be to find one woman?"

His already thin patience was disappearing. 

"Xia Yuqing, you really know how to drive someone mad. If I find you—"

Before he could finish, the office doors burst open. Gao Yiming rushed inside, breathless with a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Jinchen! We found her! We finally found her!" 

Lu Jinchen's gaze snapped up, his lips curving into a slow, satisfied smile. "Did you now?"

Gao Yiming nodded.

Without another word, Lu Jinchen rose from his seat, grabbing his coat in one swift motion. His eyes gleamed—not with relief, but with something far more dangerous. A predator who had finally caught the scent of his prey.

"Let's go."

"G-Go where?" Gao Yiming stammered, taken aback.

Lu Jinchen shot him a sidelong glance. "Where else?" His voice was low, almost mocking. "To pick up my dear wife. It's time for her to return home." 

With that, Lu Jinchen walked out of the office in long, purposeful strides. Gao Yiming remained frozen in place for a second, his mind spinning. Jinchen was going to pick her up personally? His cold, ruthless best friend—who cared nothing for marriage until yesterday—was now personally going to pick his wife?

When had this shift happened?

And more importantly…

If Jinchen was going to pick up his wife, why did he look so much like a man heading to war rather than a husband fetching his wife?

Jinchen, are you sure you're going to pick up your wife, and not your enemy?!!

If Miss Xia saw you now, she wouldn't just run away—she'd disappear again, this time for good.

Gao Yiming quickly muttered a small prayer. For Miss Xia to remain strong and for his best friend to remain sane before he quickly rushed out to follow his best friend. 

Meanwhile, the woman in question was far from concerned about the storm brewing in her name. Xia Yuqing was enjoying a slow morning in an unfamiliar home. Or, more accurately, her new "friend's" home, as Yan Rouxi liked to call herself. She woke up this morning in a soft bed, having the best sleep of her life. There was no harem, no concubine coming to disturb her, and no demands from the emperor...

It was just her. And Yan Rouxi, a willing nanny to serve her.

She adapted quickly to modern conveniences. From using a toothbrush to taking a warm shower. She also endured Yan Rouxi's insistence on dressing her in… questionable attire. The only thing in the woman's closet that could fit her was a flimsy, silk pajama set—far too revealing for her tastes.But since she was staying in, she supposed it would do.Now, she sat at the dining table, her eyes glued to the screen, unable to look away. It was last night she discovered something amazing called "TV"—and she was hooked."Yuqing," Yan Rouxi called from the open kitchen, stirring something that smelled heavenly. "Can I ask you something?"

Xia Yuqing nodded absentmindedly, her gaze never leaving the TV. "What is it?"

Yan Rouxi hesitated before finally asking, "I saw something last night, in your memories, a lot of blood, death, swords.... if you don't mind me asking, what were you? A martial artist? A female general?"

Without looking away, Xia Yuqing answered, "An assassin."Yan Rouxi's hand, stirring the pot, froze. She looked up, her eyes wide in shock. "You—what?"

"I was an assassin," Xia Yuqing repeated nonchalantly, eyes still glued to the screen.

"No wonder.... no wonder.... I saw blood, blades, and you jumping around in your memories…" she muttered in disbelief and awe, "But I also saw something else. A crown… you standing in imperial robes…"Xia Yuqing finally turned her head, her lips curling slightly. "I was an empress too."

Yan Rouxi's jaw nearly hit the floor. The spoon clattered to the counter as she gaped at Xia Yuqing, eyes wide with disbelief. "You—you were an empress too?!"

"Yes," Xia Yuqing smiled faintly.