Ten Years of Yearning. My Love, Let Me Protect You.

"Don't leave. Let's go together. They will follow us in other cars." Sheng Ruming whispered softly. Xiao Huang got goosebumps just by listening to his words. 

In a hurry, he clicked on a button and the partition between them rose 

Luo Lixi didn't object because of Sheng Ruming's pitiful acting. Also, when she saw the vague bruise on his face, her heart ached and felt guilty. 'It was… too much.'

After all, there would be many distinguished and formidable figures in the bidding venue and his current image looked out of place. 

Luo Lixi regretted and thought of compensating him after the event finished. Now all her concentration was placed on whether she got this project or not…

...

Thus, Luo Biwun, Pan Er Jiu, Zhou Lei, Shen Shubin as well as other people who would participate in the event had to follow Sheng Ruming's car in other cars. 

Those cars had to follow Sheng Ruming's car closely because the passes to enter the venue were with Luo Lixi and Xiao Huang.

...

A vast hall which was equivalent to three football fields. 

People from the most famous industries and corporations of the country were coming one after another. The sitting area was divided into three parts.

The first one for journalists. The second one for people who would participate in the bidding. Third one for the other influential people who were invited by the government. 

The project held very significant importance in people's minds. If it got successfully completed then the large cities would get connected directly and it would boast the souring economy greatly. 

Many companies around the country wanted to join this occasion. Even if they couldn't and wouldn't get the project, it would at least make them feel proud to be a part of it. 

But among hundreds of thousands of companies, only the top fifty companies and industries were invited. 

It was destined to be a long night...

All kinds of luxurious and expensive cars drove before the venue. Journalists got the chance to see many legendary figures and tycoons, all thanks to it. 

However, they were told not to question anything and keep the place as calm as possible. Even hundreds of special force officers were stationed around the venue and the entrance.

Thus, when Sheng Ruming and Luo Lixi got out of the same car, despite having several questions, the journalists only took pictures crazily. The sounds of clicking were very irritating to the naked ears.

Under the eyes of them, the couple entered the venue with ease. Pan Er Jiu, Executive Luo Biwun and their team as well as Chen Shubin and Zhou Lei followed them closely. 

But before they could completely disappear from the way, another car came. 

Some people gasped. Luo Lixi subconsciously turned, thinking that some important figure must have come but as soon as she turned around, her calm eyes wavered. 

The whispers of surrounding people entered her ears and many people turned towards Luo Lixi.

"It is Elder Kong! The third Marshall!" Someone exclaimed.

"So what? Why are you gasping?!" The person beside her nudged her, "Also, don't talk loudly. Can't you see people are frowning? You will be thrown out if you continue to behave like this!"

"Fool! Can't you see the people following him?! " The excited woman whispered.

"Ah… Young Miss Kong and… Luo Lixiang?! Why did he come with them? Also, following Miss Kong... " 

Many people alternated their eyes between Luo Lixi and Luo Lixiang. Luo Biwun frowned when he saw the man whose whereabouts were unknown to them. 

He turned around and entered the venue directly and then went to a remote corner. Afterwards, Luo Biwun called Luo Qintian. After several rings, someone picked it up, "Uncle, Xiao Xiang is here, with the Kong family."

Nobody replied for a few seconds. 

"Uncle?" Luo Biwun frowned. He moved the phone before his eyes and saw he didn't call the wrong person. 

Thus, he said again, "Can you hear my voice?"

After a while, a female voice answered, "Old master is currently busy. I… I will tell him later."

"Oh, alright." Luo Biwun said and then returned to Luo Lixi's side. 

Aunt Zhu sighed as she put the phone on the table. Then her eyes fell on the old man who was lying down on the hospital bed. 

His face was very calm while the oxygen mask was covering half of the face. The hands had several needles injected and the saline water was flowing inside.

Luo Qintian was currently in the hospital. He was unconscious and didn't wake up for more than 12 hours. After Luo Lixi had left, he got a shock out of nowhere and became senseless.

At first, Aunt Zhu wanted to call Luo Lixi and inform but then she remembered the latter had gone into another city and even if she got informed it would take time to come.

Thus, Aunt Zhu decided to wait for Luo Qintian to wake up but now, Luo Biwun's call gave her another worry. 

She glanced at the ECG machine and saw the stable data of his heart rate. Her eyes were filled with worries. 

The low whispers were enough to reach Luo Qintian's ears, "Old master, please be alright…"

...

Luo Biwun's face frowned in disapproval when he noticed that Luo Lixiang was walking beside Kong Pipi in a very intimate manner.

Kong Pipi was smiling towards the cameras and her arms were wrapped around Luo Lixiang. The young man was glancing at the journalists with an expressionless face. He didn't even turn towards Luo Lixi for once.

Pan Er Jiu internally scoffed, 'Is it red carpet? Why is she behaving like a peacock?' 

It was the thought of several people present. When Kong Pipi noticed the look on Pan Er Jiu's face, her smile dimmed while her hands around Luo Lixiang tightened a lot.

Luo Lixiang turned towards Kong Pipi and murmured, "Don't make a scene."

Kong Pipi gave a huge smile in return...

...

Elder Kong walked in large steps and soon reached beside Sheng Ruming. He gave a composed smile. He stopped before Sheng Ruming and reached out to do a formal handshake. 

"Mr Sheng, good to see you." The middle-aged man smiled and waited for the other person to raise his hand as well. 

… 

Elder Kong was Kong Pipi's uncle. He was invited to attend this event but didn't have the intention to come.

It was Kong Pipi who whined beside his ears for several days and the old man gave in. He didn't even say anything when she dragged Luo Lixiang with them because he knew his identity. 

In the whole Kong family, Kong Pipi was the only female in her generation and thus all elders spoiled her so much that they were reluctant to marry her off. 

Instead, they wanted her husband to marry and live in the Kong family. Because she had shown a clear interest in Luo Lixiang, they would support him in everything if he were to marry in the Kong family. 

The Kong Family thought that Luo Lixiang would be the perfect candidate for their dear lady. 

They had yet to know that the man was excluded from Elder Luo's will and wasn't the same Young Master Luo who was considered a gentle and good-tempered man in the high society circle.

...

Sheng Ruming shot a deep look towards Luo Lixiang. It was difficult to guess what he was thinking just by his facial expression but anything else instead of joy. 

Nonetheless, he smiled stiffly and raised his hand. Only to give Elder Kong face before the media. 

"Long time no see… Mr Kong." Sheng Ruming replied and then suggested, "Why don't we enter first?"

"Of course." Elder Kong nodded. Even though he saw the familiar faces of Luo Lixi and Luo Biwun, he didn't greet them. 

In his eyes, he had considered Luo Lixiang of his family's side and Luo Lixi the one who had snatched her younger brother's fortune.

Sheng Ruming saw the eyes Elder Kong used to glance at her. His mood got worsen. As soon as they entered, he grabbed Luo Lixi and walked ahead in large steps. 

"Ruming, slow down…" Luo Lixi had trouble matching his steps thus Sheng Ruming grabbed her by the waist and helped her to walk faster.

"Can't. That's why I told you to wear flat sandals. Why bother wearing high heels?!" Sheng Ruming's liver still hurt because her legs were exposed. 

At one point, he even had the urge to instruct Xiao Huang to go to a shop and then made her wear long pant which would cover even her toes. But his plan vanished because he didn't want her to ignore him for a long time. The man would rather die than being ignored by Luo Lixi.

Pan Er Jiu and others understood his intentions and quickened their steps.

When Pan Er Jiu glanced sideways, she giggled watching the three people's face which couldn't stop twisting. She thought, 'Serves you people right, humph!'