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

Sheng Ruming looked at his father who was calmly sitting at the sofa, hanging a nonchalant expression on his face.

He adjusted his emotions and walked to him.

"Father, how have you been?" He greeted his father as he asked.

Sheng Haotin didn't reply but observed his son intensely. His piercing gaze made Sheng Ruming slightly nervous. Even if he felt slightly intimidated by his father's cold glare he didn't break away his eye contact from him and they locked their gazes for almost two minutes.

"I am as I was always in the past. I don't think you need to know about it." The old man soothed his gaze as he replied to his son. He signalled Sheng Ruming to sit on the sofa in front of him.

As he sat down Sheng Haotin asked, "How is the company? I heard you didn't come to the company for the past few days." Even if he knew the internal situation, he wanted to hear from his son's mouth about it.

"It's going well. Even if I didn't come, I have finished some of my work at home. You don't need to worry." He replied without any emotions.

"Then it's good." He looked at his eyes.

Sheng Haotin meticulously spoke up, "I have heard some rumours saying the CEO of the 'Sheng Industry and Corporation' is unwell as he was absent from his work due to his poor health. Also, he cancelled many meetings and appointments for this reason." 

He scrutinised his son as he asked, "Is it true?"

Sheng Ruming remained silent as his father's keen gaze was on him. 

After a while, he chuckled as he said, "Huh! You heard the rumours yet the first thing you asked me, is about the company." His tone sounded a little sad while speaking but Sheng Haotin seemed to not have noticed it.

"Even if it is a rumour, it's true that I'm sick. I'll remain in the country for at least one month. After finishing the important tasks at the company, I'll go overseas for treatment." Sheng Ruming lied while he walked to the window at the side. 

From there he could see the bustling city before him. He wanted to leave this familiar city for some months. 

Also Luo Lixi's right hand was quite damaged and needed advanced treatment to fix it. Even if it was okay now there would be further complications if it didn't get treatment in time. When she gained consciousness, he decided to take her abroad with him for the treatment. 

'Why do I feel like I want to elope with her?' He couldn't help but smile when this thought came to his mind.

He couldn't lie to his father as the elderly could tell right away from his facial expressions that he was lying. That's why he avoided his direct gaze and went to the window as he spoke calmly while his back faced him.

"Is it very serious? Why didn't you tell us?" Sheng Haotin softened his voice as he asked him. 

For the past two months Sheng Ruming didn't returned home. He thought the boy was angry with them and after some days living outside, he would return when his anger cooled down.

When Sheng Ruming's mother heard he was ill, she was very worried for him. He was their only son and whatever she did in the past was only for his sake. She went to the presidential suite of the hotel which was under the 'Sheng Industry and Corporation' to meet him where he used to live when the work at the company became intense.

As the distance between the company and the main villa of the Sheng family was quite a lot he spent most of his nights there. He didn't want to waste time going back and forth between them.  

When she reached the hotel lobby, the receptionist recognised her right away as she greeted her. 

When madam Sheng asked if her son was in the hotel as she wanted the keycard of his presidential suite, the receptionist replied awkwardly that the CEO didn't come to the hotel for the past two months. 

Madam Sheng felt very embarrassed as she didn't even know where her son was living then.

After she returned home, she forced her husband to bring Sheng Ruming home. Her motherly mind became restless as she didn't get to see her son for so long. 

On top of that Sheng Ruming didn't pick up her phone call when she called him much less talking to her. 

Sheng Haotin reassured her again and again that he would bring Sheng Ruming home the next day or at least made him agree to call her. 

In the morning, she wanted to tag along with him to the company but he denied her and told her to wait for his call. Only after that she calmed down.

... ...

"Rest assured. I won't die from it. I just need treatment. That's all." he replied calmly. Sheng Haotin looked at his back. it was hard to guess what the old man was thinking.

"Today I promised your mother that I'll bring you home no matter what. So, you have to go with me. Finish your works early. We'll go back together."

"But It will be night by then. You should go back now." While saying he turned towards his father. He wanted to return to his villa as soon as possible. Luo Lixi was waiting for him there.

"Then I'll wait for you the whole day. Moreover, I'm very free you know." When he said he leaned backwards and made himself comfortable on the sofa as if he was in his house. 

"If you want me to go home then call your mother in front of me and talk to her."

Sheng Ruming knew if he didn't do as his father said then he wouldn't leave the company. He took out his phone from his pocket and called his mother. The phone rang for a few seconds when she accepted it.

... ...

At the Sheng family's main villa.

The main entrance looked majestic as it had dragon and phoenix patterns on it. When entering into its vicinity, one could enjoy the sea of flowers on both sides while driving to the main villa entrance. It took ten minutes for someone to reach the main villa from the main entrance. There was a big artificial fountain in front of the main villa. 

There stood three villas in the whole place. The front one is the main villa where their family of three lived. 

The exterior of the villas were of modern architecture but the inferior had the style of both modern and traditional setup. Almost all the facilities could be found there.

The other two villas were used for other purposes. The left one was used for party-gathering, playing etc. as the walls of it were made of glass. Also, the back garden was attached to it. There was a big pond as many fishes were swimming in it. Madam Sheng loved fishing, that's why Sheng Haotin made one for her.

The last one was used for accommodating the working stuff like caretakers, maids, butlers, drivers etc. Though it was small and couldn't compare to the other ones,  it didn't look out of place either. 

The place was designed by a renowned architect. Whenever people come here, they would be marvelled by the scenery of this place.