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

Sheng Ruming stood outside of the room and saw her intensely. He was amused by her repeated actions and couldn't stop laughing.

After working on a paper, Luo Lixi tore the page from the canvas and crumbled it into a ball with bitterness. The lady threw the ball into the nearby trash can and put another paper to use. 

Luo Lixi started to paint again with a frown on her forehead and was invested in her work so much that she didn't notice, all the staff of this studio was staring at her with utter concentration. 

Pan Er Jiu saw this familiar scene and murmured awkwardly, "Sir, It's the 8th time Madam has ruined her work and thrown it away. Shouldn't we go in and check if she needs help?"

Sheng Ruming shook his head at her question. 

"As long as she doesn't like or feel there is still error, she would definitely tear the painting or destroy the thing. The woman is too obsessed with perfect paintings." Sheng Ruming explained as he stared ahead. After a while, he saw Luo Lixi tearing the white paper again and throwing it away. 

The man sighed and turned around. Then, he noticed many people who were standing behind him and peeking at Luo Lixi as well. But because all of them were female, he didn't get angry.

Pan Er Jiu noticed his gaze and turned back. She thought of something and hurriedly told the staff, "It's your first day of working here so there isn't anything important to do. You all, go back to your assigned workplace and get yourself familiarized with the place. If needed, you will be called."

"Yes." The employees nodded and left. Then Pan Er Jiu turned to Sheng Ruming and understood one thing that the man wouldn't go to Luo Lixi for the moment. She turned to Yang Meili who was busy typing on her phone with a deep frown as if something was troubling her. 

Thus, she turned to Sheng Ruming and said, "Sir, you have been standing here for a long time. Why don't you go to the office and wait for Madam to finish?"

"No need." The man whispered and continued to stare ahead with his hands being in his pockets. 

"Should I bring a chair for you to sit in?" Yang Meili lifted her eyes from the phone and turned to Sheng Ruming while saying. 

Sheng Ruming was interrupted in his thoughts and was displeased. He turned at the other two women and said sternly, "You two leave as well. Don't disturb me." 

Thus, Pan Er Jiu and Yang Meili hurriedly left as well. While they were departing, Yang Meili again started to type frantically on her phone's screen. At one point, she nearly tripped on the clean floor. 

"Be careful!" Pan Er Jiu grabbed her and stopped her from tumbling on the ground. Yang Meili was stunned and felt dejected.

"Thanks, Jiu." 

Pan Er Jiu felt that she was troubled and asked, "What's wrong Meili?"

"Er Jiu, Miss Yan, she got herself in trouble but I am here. So I was trying to contact some people and see if they could help her out." Yang Meili babbled to her and revealed the message Ji Yanli had left. 

"Shouldn't we ask CEO Sheng for help then? They seem to be on good terms." Pan Er Jiu reminded her and only then Yang Meili remembered it. 

"She isn't his secretary anymore. Also, CEO Sheng is married…" Yang Meili whispered meaningfully. 

"So what if he's married?" The dense Er Jiu asked innocently. She didn't understand the implications behind Yang Meili's words and didn't get how Ji Yanli's matter was related to Sheng Ruming's marriage. 

"You… forget it. If I can't see any way to help Miss Yan, then I will ask the CEO for help." Yang Meili added while waving her hand and left. 

Pan Er Jiu was confused further and stood in her place for a long time. In the end, she decided to follow Yang Meili's steps. 

…

"Why can't I make a proper painting?! Just why?!" Luo Lixi shouted as she tore the 15th painting of hers and crumbled and threw it away. 

She grabbed her head and looked down on the floor in resignation. Her eyes got red and those black orbs got filled with tears. 

Sheng Ruming wanted to go in and say, 'It's fine. You can do it slowly.' but when he saw her picking another white paper, he decided not to go in and make her feel more insecure. 

Right then, several footsteps were heard and soon Chen Shubin and Zhou Lei came beside him. Both men had several things in their hands. 

"Ah, boss, here you are. Finally, I have found you!" Zhou Lei grunted and then tried to put the things in Sheng Ruming's hands but the man moved from his place and avoided being stuffed by files. 

"Why are you here? Didn't I send you the finished files in the early morning?" Sheng Ruming frowned. 

Then he saw the papers which were in their hands and guessed those must be new files of upcoming projects and deals. 

"Boss, you have turned off your phone and we could only come here. Also, did you forget that you have a meeting with Liu Azhen's uncle?! The man has come to inspect the progress of the work." Chen Shubin said gravely. The man stroked his head subconsciously and had the urge to cry. 

'Did Ji Yanli mean it back then? She also lost hair like this?! I am getting bald!' Chen Shubin thought and cried in his head. It was the negative effects of working in a top company. 

Aside from getting a high pay, you will have to steel your mind to lose your hair, spine … even your kidneys!

Sheng Ruming peeped at Luo Lixi and believed that she would need a lot of time. Thus he turned around and inquired, "When will the mayor come?"

"In one hour. Boss, let's come with us to the company. After the meeting, you can come back… please~" Zhou Lei said, begging. 

In the past, he was the scapegoat for Ji Yanli and now, for Chen Shubin. He couldn't light a candle before their scheme and shrewdness. Before coming, he made a bet with Chen Shubin.

Chen Shubin for Sheng Ruming wouldn't come to the company and he for the opposite. The one who would lose will have to go to the construction site and record Liu Azhen's misery for Sheng Ruming. 

"Ok." Sheng Ruming replied and went to leave. 

"Please, boss… leave? Leave! Ok, let's leave!" At once, Zhou Lei went up to heaven from hell and rushed to follow Sheng Ruming. Before leaving, he snickered at Chen Shubin who was stunned in shock. 

Now, the man would have to go to the construction site and look after the work, also record Liu Azhen for Sheng Ruming to see. And Zhou Lei for the chance to accompany Sheng Ruming in the meeting. 

The man also scrambled ahead and carelessly said, "Boss, should I call the mayor's assistant and tell them to go to our restaurant?" 

Hearing him, Zhou Lei flared up in anger. After all, if Sheng Ruming didn't go to the company, Chen Shubin would win in the bet. 

"No, boss! We can't do that!" Zhou Lei's reaction was too much and Sheng Ruming stopped in his tracks. He removed his glasses and eyed the two men with contempt.

"Didn't I tell you two? No bet! Do you still want your bonus or not?" Sheng Ruming let out in displeasure. In the past, he had also fallen in Ji Yanli's trap and was a certified victim. 

In reply, Zhou Lei told innocently, "But boss, did you say we won't get our bonuses for a few months?!"

"You believed that?" Sheng Ruming smirked and turned to him. After looking at their dumbfounded faces, he replied with a grin. 

"How can I don't give them their wages? My company doesn't lack money. Others will get their bonuses in time but you two… dared to bet... no bonus for you two for six months!" 

Right after saying that, Sheng Ruming left. This time, both Chen Shubin and Zhou Lei were stumped and cried out in their heads. They felt like they had just shot themselves on their own fortune!

…

After many trials and attempts, Luo Lixi finally decided on a picture that was still vivid in her mind. She sketched the scene on paper with a pencil and was quite satisfied with the end result. 

"I think both Ruming and grandfather will be happy with this." Luo Lixi was ecstatic and rubbed her right hand which had become so sore that she didn't feel it for a long time. 

"Ruming, I am done…" She stayed on the stool and turned around with a confident smile but to her dismay, no one was there. 'Did I think that he would wait for such a long time?'