Chapter 82 Her flight landed

Late in the night of early winter, the chill silently licked the French windows. Outside, there was an impenetrable darkness, and the entire city seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, with all being silent.

The heavy walnut door of the study was closed tightly, leaving only a ray of warm yellow light seeping through the gap.

Zhao Chen slumped in a large, high-backed leather chair, his back to the door. Across the huge, curved screen, dark blue data scrolled silently, reflecting his expressionless profile.

He supported his forehead with his left hand and held the mouse with his right hand. His fingertips occasionally slid across the touchpad, his movements precise and mechanical.

Processing the last few key documents sent by Horizon Group's North American branch regarding the divestiture and restructuring of the newly acquired Norson Group.

The cold numbers, the complex terms, the vast flow of funds, all meshed like precise gears in his mind. This was his battlefield, silent yet thick with smoke.

Sudden--

The screen of the mobile phone placed on the corner of the desk suddenly lit up without any warning!

A new text message notification, no name noted, only an unfamiliar international number.

The message was brief, but it carried an overwhelming, unignorable coquettishness and a declaration of determination:

[Brother Chen, we're taking off from LAX~ Business class is so boring, I miss you so much [grievance]]

[Tomorrow afternoon at 3:15, Haicheng International Airport Terminal 1, see you! [love][love][love]]

Take off from LAX. Tomorrow afternoon at 3:15. Haicheng International Airport Terminal 1.

The signature is three bright red love emoticons.

Gu Qianqian.

This name, like a bolt of lightning with icy chips, instantly split all the calmness in Zhao Chen's eyes!

His fingers gripping the mouse suddenly tightened! The joints turned a cold white from the force! The calm, restrained, and controlling aura surrounding him was like a branding iron being plunged into ice water, with a "hiss" sound, instantly solidifying and cooling!

Deep within his amber eyes, all the data and calculations instantly vanished! Instead, a deep, cold, disgusted look filled his gaze.

The dark blue data stream on the screen was still scrolling, but it could no longer be reflected in his cold eyes.

He stared at the text message, at the name "Brother Chen," at the three glaring hearts. Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds. The only sound in the study was the faint hum of the air conditioner vent and his suddenly cold, subdued breathing.

His fingertips hovered above the phone screen, resting on the delete button. With just one click, the message and the number would vanish completely.

At the moment when the fingertips were about to fall——

“Knock, knock, knock.”

A soft knock on the door broke the suffocating silence in the study.

Then, the study door was cautiously pushed open a crack. Yu Ling leaned in halfway, holding a cup of warm milk, a faint steam rising from the white porcelain cup. She was wearing soft coral fleece pajamas, her long hair casually tied back. Her face was a little sleepy, but more of a look of concern.

"Hubby?" Her voice was soft and slightly hoarse from waking up. "I saw your light was still on, so I heated up a cup of milk for you..."

Her eyes fell on Zhao Chen's tense profile, and she keenly caught the unusual, yet lingering chill in the air. "...Are you still busy? Do you want to take a break?"

Just as the door was pushed open and Yu Ling's voice rang out!

The freezing cold in Zhao Chen's eyes melted and faded away in an instant, as if it had been thrown into boiling magma! The speed was incredible!

He abruptly withdrew his finger from the delete key, the movement smooth and natural as if nothing had happened. The hard lines on his face were replaced by an impeccable, warm and gentle smile as he turned to face the door.

The suffocating feeling of oppression just now disappeared, leaving only the tenderness for the young wife who visited him late at night and a hint of just the right amount of tiredness.

"Lingling?" The coldness in his voice disappeared without a trace, leaving only a gentle hoarseness, and even a hint of a helpless smile of being disturbed. "Why are you up? Did I disturb you?"

He stood up, his tall figure leaving his chair, and walked a few steps to the door, then naturally embraced Yu Ling and the milk cup in her hand. His movements were gentle yet strong, filled with a possessive desire that could not be denied.

"I didn't wake you up," Yu Ling said, as he embraced her in a warm embrace. His warmth, transmitted through the thin pajamas, dispelled the chill from her body. She tilted her head back and held the cup of milk to his lips, her eyes sparkling with pure concern. "I just saw you were still busy so late, and I was worried you might be feeling sick."

Zhao Chen took her hand and lowered his head to drink a sip of warm milk. The mellow liquid slid down his throat, and the warmth spread instantly.

He lowered his head to look at his little wife, who was only as tall as his chest in his arms, with clear eyes and a sleepy look. Her amber eyes were filled with an inextricable tenderness and satisfaction, as if the message just now had never appeared.

"My wife still loves me." He chuckled softly, his chest vibrating slightly, with a magnetic energy. He lowered his head, and his warm lips pressed a soft kiss to her smooth forehead with a very natural and intimate gesture. "I'll finish this right away, you go to bed first, okay?"

Yu Ling's cheeks felt slightly hot from his intimate actions and gentle words, and she nodded obediently: "Well, don't be too late." She rubbed against his arms affectionately, ready to give him the cup of milk and leave.

Just as she slightly turned sideways and wanted to put the cup on the cabinet next to her——

Her fingertips accidentally swept across Zhao Chen's left hand, which was casually placed on her waist and had just put down the milk cup.

What his fingertips touched was the screen of the mobile phone in his hand.

The screen was still warm, but there was a lingering coldness on the surface.

What made Yu Ling's heart stop was——

The moment her fingertips swept across the screen, the screen, which was briefly awakened by the contact, lit up for a moment in the darkness!

Although it was only a very brief glimpse, and although the screen brightness was set very low, Yu Ling could still clearly see the text message preview box at the top of the screen which had not yet completely gone dark!

Above the sender's unfamiliar international number, three glaring Chinese characters were displayed:

Gu Qianqian!

Following that were the first few words of the text message: [Brother Chen, LAX has taken off~……]

Boom——!!!

Yu Ling's mind went blank instantly! The blood in her body seemed to freeze in an instant!

Gu Qianqian! She's back home?! Tomorrow afternoon?! And she sent Zhao Chen this... a message filled with love and coquettishness?!

Zhao Chen just now...was that momentary coldness and tension he felt just now because of this message?!

A huge shock and a cold panic instantly wrapped around Yu Ling's heart like a venomous snake! Her body suddenly stiffened, and the hand holding the milk cup trembled uncontrollably, almost spilling the milk in the cup!

Zhao Chen keenly noticed the stiffness of the person in his arms and the slight trembling of his fingertips. He lowered his head, his amber eyes still as gentle as water under the warm yellow corridor light, with just the right amount of concern:

"What's wrong, Lingling? Your hands are so cold?" He held her slightly cold hand very naturally, and his warm big palm wrapped around her fingertips, as if to dispel the abnormal coldness.

Yu Ling raised her head and met his clear eyes, filled with tenderness and concern. There was no trace of guilt or panic, only concern for her "cold hands."

Was it my fault? Was it the screen's glare? Or was he hiding it so well?

Ling's heart was churning with confusion and unease. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask him, to confirm, but her throat seemed to be blocked, and no words came out. She feared an answer she couldn't bear, and even more so, she feared shattering the false warmth of the moment.

In this dead silence, in this moment of turmoil—

“BOOM——!!!”

A deafening thunderclap, like a giant hammer, shattered the dead silence outside the window! Pale lightning tore through the dense night, instantly illuminating the two people hugging each other at the study door like ghosts!

Then, like a torrential downpour, the rain poured down without warning, madly crashing down on the huge French windows. There was a dense and violent "crackling" sound! The strong wind swept the raindrops, lashing the glass fiercely, making a whimpering sound!

Lightning, thunder and heavy rain!

Yu Ling was frightened by the sudden thunder and trembled all over, subconsciously shrinking into Zhao Chen's arms.

Zhao Chen immediately tightened his arms, holding her tighter in his embrace. His broad chest blocked out the thunder and lightning outside the window. His warm palms gently patted her back, his voice low and steady, carrying a reassuring power: "Don't be afraid, it's just thunder."

Yu Ling leaned on his strong and warm chest, listening to his steady and strong heartbeat, and feeling the sense of security brought by his embrace.

Outside the window, there was a raging storm and deafening thunder.

In his arms, there is the warmth that he gives, enough to shield me from all wind and rain.

But……

Yu Ling slowly raised her hand and gently stroked her cold cheek with her fingertips.

The piercing coldness that remained on his phone screen when I accidentally touched it just now... and the three words "Gu Qianqian" that I caught a glimpse of...

But it was like an invisible, poisonous ice needle that pierced deeply into the deepest part of her heart.

The coolness of the fingertips spread from the fingertips he was holding to all parts of his limbs.