Chapter 1030: A warning without a single word

By the time Yue Ling finished reviewing the last proposal, the sky outside had turned completely dark.

She hadn’t noticed.

The city lights had begun glowing beneath the falling snow, reflecting against the glass walls of the surrounding buildings.

Inside her office, the only sounds were the occasional clicking of her mouse and the soft rustle of paper.

Yue Ling frowned at the figures on her screen.

She made a small correction.

Then another.

Her attention was so thoroughly absorbed in the report that she barely registered the knock at her door.

Knock. Knock.

"Come in."

She didn’t look up.

Assuming it was Secretary Jiang or Liu Shan, she continued typing.

The door opened.

Quiet footsteps entered.

Then a familiar deep voice sounded from across the room.

"I thought I told you not to work too hard."

Yue Ling’s fingers stopped.

Her head lifted.

Standing several feet away was Lu Tian.

His dark tailored coat rested over his broad shoulders, and a few tiny snowflakes still clung to the dark fabric near his collar.

His expression was as composed as ever.

But the moment his eyes met hers, the coldness in them softened.

Yue Ling’s face immediately brightened.

"Tian!"

She rose from her chair.

"What are you doing here?"

Lu Tian’s gaze briefly swept across her desk.

The open documents.

The computer screen.

The untouched cup of tea.

His brows drew together slightly.

Then he looked at her.

"I’m here to take you home."

Yue Ling blinked.

"Home?"

Lu Tian didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he walked toward the coat rack beside her desk and retrieved her winter coat.

He turned back.

"Come here."

Yue Ling looked at him.

Then at her computer.

"But it’s not time yet."

Lu Tian raised an eyebrow.

"Isn’t it?"

Yue Ling opened her mouth.

Then she happened to glance toward the window.

Her words died.

Outside, Imperial was already wrapped in darkness.

Snow drifted past the illuminated windows. Streetlights glowed against the white-covered roads.

Yue Ling stared.

"Oh."

Lu Tian watched her expression.

The corner of his mouth lifted faintly.

"Oh?"

She turned back toward him.

"What time is it?"

"Late enough."

"Tian."

He glanced at his watch then back at her.

"Late enough that my wife should have been home already."

Yue Ling laughed softly.

"That’s not a time."

"It’s the only one that matters."

She shook her head then her gaze drifted toward her computer.

There was still more work waiting.

She had nearly finished the current report.

If she stayed another hour—

"Leave the rest for tomorrow."

Lu Tian’s deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

Yue Ling looked up.

He was already standing before her.

His expression was calm, but his eyes carried the familiar firmness that told her arguing would be useless.

"I still have a few things to finish."

"Tomorrow."

"It’s only—"

"Yue Ling."

She stopped.

Lu Tian looked down at her.

"Work will still be here in the morning."

His voice softened.

"But you’ve been here all day."

Yue Ling pressed her lips together.

He held out her coat.

"Come."

She sighed dramatically.

"You’re becoming very bossy."

Lu Tian’s eyebrow rose.

"Becoming?"

Yue Ling laughed.

"Fine. You’ve always been bossy."

"Only because my wife refuses to rest."

He stepped closer.

Before she could respond, he gently draped the coat over her shoulders.

His hands moved carefully, helping her slip her arms into the sleeves.

Then he adjusted the collar around her neck.

Yue Ling watched him.

There was something strangely comforting about the way Lu Tian cared for her.

He never made a grand display of it.

Never asked for praise.

He simply noticed what she needed and quietly took care of it.

Once her coat was properly settled, he leaned down and pressed a kiss against the side of her head.

"Let’s go home."

Yue Ling’s expression softened completely.

She looked up at him.

A warm smile curved her lips.

"Alright."

Lu Tian’s eyes softened.

She turned toward her desk and quickly saved her work.

Then she shut down the computer.

"There."

She faced him.

"Happy?"

"Mm."

Yue Ling chuckled.

Lu Tian reached for her hand. His large fingers wrapped naturally around hers.

Without releasing her, he picked up her work bag with his other hand.

Yue Ling glanced at it.

"I can carry that."

"I know."

"Then give it to me."

"No."

She stared at him.

Lu Tian looked entirely unbothered.

Yue Ling shook her head.

"You’re impossible."

He leaned closer.

"And yet you married me."

"Not officially."

His dark eyes narrowed slightly.

"Are you trying to change your mind?"

Yue Ling laughed.

"Maybe."

Lu Tian stopped walking.

Yue Ling immediately looked up.

He stared down at her.

For a moment, his expression became frighteningly serious.

Then he bent slightly toward her ear.

"Too late."

Yue Ling’s cheeks warmed.

"Tian!"

The corner of his mouth lifted.

He resumed walking, gently pulling her along.

The corridor outside Yue Ling’s office was quieter than usual.

Most employees had already gone home.

A few lights remained on behind office doors, and the soft hum of the heating system filled the otherwise peaceful floor.

The couple had barely stepped out when another door opened nearby.

Liu Shan emerged from his office.

He was adjusting the strap of his bag when he noticed them.

"Oh?"

His eyebrows rose.

"Are you leaving, Boss?"

Yue Ling glanced at Lu Tian.

Then back at her assistant.

"It seems like I am."

Liu Shan laughed.

His gaze shifted toward Lu Tian.

"Of course."

He shook his head.

"Without Mr. Lu, you’d probably be working until midnight again."

Yue Ling gave him an unimpressed look.

"Do you have something to say?"

"Absolutely not."

His expression was perfectly innocent.

"I fully support a healthy work-life balance."

Yue Ling raised an eyebrow.

"Since when?"

"Since my boss finally found someone capable of dragging her away from her desk."

Lu Tian remained indifferent, but one could see his lips curved faintly.

Yue Ling sighed.

"You two are enjoying this far too much."

Liu Shan grinned.

"Someone has to."

The three walked toward the elevator together.

Liu Shan continued chatting casually, mentioning a few minor matters that could wait until the following morning.

Yue Ling listened, occasionally responding.

Lu Tian remained mostly silent. His hand stayed wrapped around hers.

To anyone watching, he appeared perfectly relaxed.

But his dark eyes occasionally shifted toward Liu Shan’s reflection in the closed elevator door as they waited for it to arrive.

Quietly.

Observantly.

Xu Long’s words from earlier that afternoon had not left his mind.

’Does this involve Fate?’

’Yes.’

’Does this affect my wife?’

’It’s not confirmed yet.’

Lu Tian had spent years dealing with people who believed they could conceal things from him.

He knew the difference between ordinary nervousness and deliberate secrecy.

And although Liu Shan was smiling and joking as usual, Lu Tian was paying attention.

He knew how closely Liu Shan worked with Yue Ling.

He knew how much the members of Alpha Team trusted one another.

And he knew Xu Long had not been investigating alone.

There was no doubt that Liu Shan was involved.

And it made him someone worth watching.

The elevator arrived.

They stepped inside.

Yue Ling leaned slightly closer to Lu Tian.

"Did you have a busy day?"

Lu Tian looked down at her.

"Nothing unusual."

She studied his face.

"Really?"

"Hm."

He gently squeezed her hand.

"What about you?"

Yue Ling smiled.

"Busy."

"I can see that."

She laughed softly.

"But my design team has started working on my mother’s dress."

Lu Tian’s expression softened.

"That’s good."

"I also made a call to an old friend."

His brows furrowed and he watched her carefully.

"An old friend?"

Yue Ling nodded.

"We haven’t spoken properly in a while."

Lu Tian remained quiet, giving her his full attention.

"I told her about the wedding."

His gaze softened further.

"And?"

Yue Ling smiled.

"She was happy."

There was something in her expression that made Lu Tian’s chest warm.

Relief.

Peace.

A happiness that seemed lighter than the one she had carried that morning.

"Very happy," she added.

Lu Tian brushed his thumb across her knuckles.

"Good."

Yue Ling looked up at him.

"I think I want to visit City Z soon."

Lu Tian’s expression remained calm.

But his eyes sharpened slightly.

"City Z?"

She nodded.

"Before the wedding, if possible."

He studied her.

"To see your old friend?"

"Her too."

Yue Ling’s smile softened.

"And a few other people."

Lu Tian understood there was more she wasn’t saying.

But he didn’t press.

Instead, he gently squeezed her hand.

"Then we’ll arrange it."

Yue Ling looked at him.

"We?"

"Of course."

Her eyes softened.

"Tian..."

He glanced down at her.

"Did you think I’d let my wife travel alone?"

She laughed.

"I’m perfectly capable of traveling alone."

"I know."

"Then?"

Lu Tian’s expression remained completely serious.

"I want to go with you."

Yue Ling stared at him for a moment then smiled.

"Alright."

The elevator doors opened.

By the time they reached the lobby, only a handful of employees remained.

The security guards immediately straightened when they noticed Lu Tian.

His presence was difficult to ignore.

Even in silence, the man carried an authority that made people instinctively move aside.

Yue Ling, however, seemed entirely unaffected.

She continued talking to him about the call and her mother’s dress, occasionally laughing at something she remembered.

Lu Tian listened.

His expression remained indifferent to everyone else.

But whenever he looked at her, his gaze softened.

Liu Shan walked beside them. He smiled at their conversation.

Yet beneath that smile, his thoughts remained elsewhere.

Liu Peng.

Choi Li Sun.

The lounge footage.

The unanswered questions.

He had spent most of the afternoon pretending everything was normal.

It was exhausting.

Especially when the person he was hiding information from was walking right beside him.

And the man holding her hand was someone he absolutely did not want to anger.

They reached the entrance.

Liu Shan adjusted his bag.

"Alright, Boss. I’ll see you tomorrow."

Yue Ling nodded.

"Drive carefully."

"You too."

He grinned.

"Although with Mr. Lu driving, I doubt anyone would dare get in your way."

Yue Ling shook her head.

"Goodnight, Liu Shan."

"Goodnight, Boss."

Liu Shan turned toward Lu Tian.

"Please take good care of her, Mr. Lu."

Lu Tian looked at him.

For a brief second, neither man spoke.

Then—

Their eyes met.

Liu Shan’s smile faltered.

Something cold slid down his spine.

Lu Tian’s expression had not changed.

His face remained calm.

His posture relaxed.

But his eyes—

Those dark, unreadable eyes were fixed directly on him.

There was no warmth in them.

No amusement.

Only a quiet, penetrating sharpness that made Liu Shan feel as though the man could see straight through him.

The look lasted barely a second.

Yet it felt much longer.

Liu Shan’s fingers tightened around the strap of his bag.

His heartbeat quickened.

He had seen Lu Tian angry before.

He had witnessed the man’s terrifying composure when dealing with enemies.

But this was different.

Lu Tian wasn’t angry.

He was watching.

And somehow, that was worse.

A faint chill crawled up Liu Shan’s back.

Then Lu Tian looked away.

Just like that.

The pressure disappeared.

He turned toward Yue Ling and gently guided her toward the waiting car.

"Let’s go."

Yue Ling smiled.

"Mm."

The couple walked away together.

Liu Shan remained standing near the entrance.

His smile had vanished completely.

He slowly turned his head, watching their departing figures.

Lu Tian opened the passenger door for Yue Ling.

He waited until she was comfortably seated before closing it.

Then he walked around the vehicle.

Every movement was calm.

Unhurried.

As though nothing unusual had happened.

Liu Shan swallowed.

"What..."

His brows drew together.

He replayed that brief exchange in his mind.

The look.

The silence.

The unmistakable warning hidden behind those dark eyes.

A terrible possibility surfaced.

’Could it be...’

His fingers tightened around his bag.

’Does Lu Tian know?’

Liu Shan stared at the car. His heartbeat became uncomfortably loud.

There was no way.

They had been careful.

Xu Long had promised them one week.

He wouldn’t have told Lu Tian.

Would he?

Liu Shan’s expression slowly darkened.

Then another thought struck him.

Xu Long.

He had worked beside Lu Tian for years.

If anyone could notice that something was wrong with him, it would be his own boss.

Liu Shan closed his eyes.

"Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me."

He rubbed his forehead.

The cold winter air suddenly felt much colder.

Across the driveway, Lu Tian opened the driver’s door.

Before getting inside, he briefly lifted his gaze.

His dark eyes met Liu Shan’s once more.

This time, there was no mistaking it.

The look was deliberate.

Cold.

Silent.

A warning without a single word.

Then Lu Tian got into the car.

The engine started.

Moments later, the vehicle disappeared into the snowy streets of Imperial.

Liu Shan stood frozen.

For several seconds, he didn’t move.

Then he slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

He opened Xu Long’s contact.

His thumb hovered over the call button.

A muscle twitched near his eye.

"Xu Long..."

He drew in a sharp breath.

"What the hell did you do?"

He pinched the space between his brows.

"Get to my condo. Now."

And for the first time since agreeing to keep the investigation from Yue Ling, Liu Shan began to wonder whether their one week had already run out.