Chapter 89: Miss Xie, may I ask you a question?

Hey.

It's me, Lu Chen.

Yeah, Mr. Lu.

If Miss Xie doesn't want me to come to your doorstep, we can arrange to meet somewhere; as long as we both show up at the hotel, that's fine.

Lu Chen respected her greatly.

No need, then please trouble Mr. Lu to come pick me up at my place; after all, I have to go out in a wheelchair.

No trouble, thank you for your effort, Miss Xie.

See you later tonight?

Sure.

After hanging up, Xie Wantang @'ed everyone in the 'Family' WeChat group: 'Tonight I won't be eating at home; Mr. Lu is taking me to meet Professor Wu.'

Qin Father + Qin Mother: 'Received (OK).'

Oldest Qin: 'How are you going? Is Lu Chen coming to pick you up?'

Xie Wantang: 'Yeah, he said he'd come pick me up at home.'

Second Qin: 'Remember to bring the wheelchair; should I come pick you up tonight? Second Brother has no surgery or social engagements tonight, so I'm free.'

Xie Wantang: 'No need, thanks, Second Brother. Maybe Mr. Lu will give me a ride; if he doesn't, I'll call you.'

Third Qin, busy but taking a moment, replied: 'What if he doesn't give you a ride? If he doesn't, I'll bankrupt his LC.'

Xie Wantang: '……'

Second Qin: 'Third kid, what's with your big mouth? That kid wants to give you a ride but you won't let him—you didn't see that day, his eyes were practically glued to our Tang Bao.'

Xie Wantang had just finished reading when Second Qin instantly recalled the message.

Xie Wantang: ……

Then, the 'Family' WeChat group fell silent as a grave.

Lu Chen arrived at 5:40 p. m.; to avoid rush‑hour traffic, he came early.

The butler pushed out Xie Wantang's wheelchair; she changed into a short‑sleeved shirt and long pants, simply tied her hair into a bun, revealing her slender swan neck.

The short‑sleeved shirt was a collared polo.

All the buttons were fastened to the top, looking proper and dignified.

Xie Wantang usually doesn't wear low‑cut tops; when it's hot, she opts for sleeveless shirts and shorts.

Her favorite are flip‑flops, which are practically standard issue for the ordinary folk of Haishi.

The straight‑leg pants clung to Xie Wantang's slender, long legs, making them look even slimmer; even seated in the wheelchair, her long, straight legs remained eye‑catching.

Lu Chen didn't go inside; he called Xie Wantang from the doorway.

The butler wheeled Xie Wantang to the front gate; she leaned on her cane and slowly got into the car.

She didn't know why, as a perfectly healthy person, she felt compelled to pretend to be lame, nor was she sure whether her act was convincing.

But since everyone expected her to do so, she went along with it.

She treated it as an acting experience, except there was no camera filming her.

Lu Chen folded the wheelchair, placed it in the trunk, politely bade the butler farewell, then got into the driver's seat.

He slowly drove off.

After the car left the residential area and entered the main road, Lu Chen took the initiative to find a topic to chat about.

Miss Xie, may I ask you a question?

Yeah, Mr. Lu, go ahead.

Both were very polite.

Their courtesy carried a hint of distance.

Miss Xie, why are you interested in such an obscure field as voiceprint analysis?

This is related to a game I used to play as a child.

Xie Wantang sat up straight; seeing that this Lu Chen took the initiative to chat with her, she knew he was definitely not Lu Yanshen—he was Lu Chen.

Since he is another person with no connection to her, from now on she must not view him through biased lenses.

She cannot take out her resentment toward Lu Yanshen on him.

Mr. Lu, have you ever played the game where you're blindfolded and people line up behind you to speak, and you have to guess who they are?

I probably have, though I don't really remember," Lu Chen laughed.

Xie Wantang found his smile healing, far better than the aloof, scumbag Lu Yanshen.

I often played it with my childhood pals; I usually came out on top. Later, I think it was my mother who noticed my talent in this area and had me take a master.

Is that also your senior martial brother's master?" Lu Chen ventured.

Yes, we share the same master; my master is formidable, skilled in far more than just voiceprint analysis.

Lu Chen nodded: 'Yeah, I can tell you admire your master; when you talk about her, your eyes light up.'

Just like when she looked at him in Sijiucheng back then.

After everything passes, if they can both still stand where they are, he truly hopes her gaze toward him will still radiate that captivating light.

But he dares not guarantee how long this will take, so he will not and dare not casually reveal his identity to her.

If he were to die, she would be left alone with the child, and the person she would hate would be Lu Yanshen.

He could let her believe she loves him, letting Lu Yanshen take the blame.

After all, he's been pretending to be him for many years.

That way, when he leaves this world, there won't be an extra regret.

Mr. Lu, brake!" Suddenly Xie Wantang spoke up to remind him.

The voice was sharp.

Lu Chen immediately came to his senses; the intersection ahead had already turned red, a black Audi was steadily stopped in front, if not for Xie Wantang's timely reminder, he very likely would have rushed forward and collided with it.

"Thank you." Lu Chen, having escaped disaster, expressed his thanks, his gaze sweeping over Xie Wantang's abdomen bound by the seatbelt.

Fortunately, there was still time; otherwise, if he had to brake suddenly, causing a traffic accident would be bad enough, but if Xie Wantang got hit, that would be a crime.

"You're welcome, as long as you're okay."

Soon, they arrived at the Haishi Grand Hotel.

Lu Chen parked the car at the entrance; Professor Wu, leaning on a cane, stood at the doorway, such an elderly person, yet there was no one accompanying him.

Xie Wantang looked on, her heart startled.

"Mr. Lu, leaving your grandfather, an old man, here alone—can you rest easy?" Xie Wantang asked while undoing her seatbelt, her eyes fixed on the old man leaning on a cane at the doorway, fearful he might fall.

Xie Wantang had seen Professor Wu's photo from her master.

Xie Wantang had mild face blindness; for strangers and people she wasn't familiar with, she would forget them after seeing them.

But for those she valued, she would find a way to remember their facial features, so she wouldn't forget.

"Miss Xie, wait a moment; I'll quickly tell you that Professor Wu is my maternal grandfather—this is known only to the two of us, and must not be disclosed to anyone else, including your brother and your Senior Martial Brother."

And you mustn't slip up in front of that old man.

Secondly, my grandfather is that odd old man; he dislikes being reminded of his age, thinks he's still young, his mindset is fine, but his temper is bad.

He's a rare combination of contradictions; if you weren't truly eager to see him, I really wouldn't want you to meet this odd old man, for fear you couldn't withstand his explosive temper.

"Excellent people always have some aspects others can't accept—that's normal; I understand." Xie Wantang nodded, having received Lu Chen's reminder.

She would certainly be careful, never provoking Professor Wu.

After all, she still wanted to gather news about King from Professor Wu.