Leng Xuanmo sat behind a dark mahogany desk, the soft golden light from the desk lamp casting sharp shadows across his face. His sleeves were rolled neatly to his forearms, veins subtly visible as his fingers typed silently across the keyboard. A thick stack of documents lay beside him some marked, some untouched and the scent of ink and aged leather filled the study. The walls were lined with bookshelves, but everything was in perfect order, reflecting the man himself: cold, meticulous, and intimidatingly calm.
His jaw was set, brows slightly furrowed in thought, not even glancing up when the door creaked open.
Leng Yumo peeked in, her steps light as usual, but her voice carried casual mischief.
"Brother, don't tell me you've been locked up in here since morning."
He finally looked up, eyes cool and sharp. But at the sight of her playful expression, the cold edge softened just a little.
"You need something?" he asked, voice low and even.
She plopped onto the leather couch across from him without waiting for an invitation, grinning.
"Not really. Just making sure you haven't turned into a statue."
He sighed faintly, but his lips almost curved almost. "Then close the door properly."
Yumo chuckled. "As you wish, boss." She said as she was about to get up then she remembered something
"Eh. Brother" Yumo called
Leng Xuanmo didn't look up from his laptop
"Is there a problem?" He asked
"At dinner, when we were eating granny cold mentioned Lu Xinyan going back to school but sister in law turn her down"
"Turn her down? Why?" Leng Xuanmo asked
"Grandma asked him to attend my school but she said no" Leng Yumo said
"Yumo. I think there's something more to it" Leng Xuanmo said picking up a file from his tablet
"there is nothing more to this. She just doesn't want Xinyan to go to school," Yumo said sharply. "She's sheltering him too much. Or more like ashamed of him for being an autistic person"
Xuanmo's voice was calm, deliberate. He understands but points of view but the one who doesn't get it was Yumo.
"Yumo, I understand Jingyan's point of view." He said calmly
Yumo's eyes narrowed. "You're taking her side?"
"No," he replied, leaning back slightly. "I'm seeing her heart. Jingyan isn't ashamed of Xinyan. She's afraid for him. The world isn't kind to those who don't fit in. You've seen that."
Silence stretched between them.
"She's not trying to hide him," he continued. "She's trying to protect him with the only shield she has."
Yumo's lips tightened, her stance wavering. "But hiding him away won't make him stronger."
Xuanmo nodded slowly. "True. But forcing him into a cruel environment before he's ready could destroy what little confidence he's built. Remember he's an autistic person"
"You are right. I am not seeing from her own point of view" she said.
"Are you going back tomorrow?" Leng Yumo asked
"Yes" Xuanmo replied curtly
"Without seeing sister in law?"
"I will see her once I am back" he said
"Have you found the cause of the blackmail?" Leng Yumo asked
"No. Li Zeyan couldn't find anything" he said as she continued reading his files
"You mean it isn't connected to the dragon net?" Leng Yumo asked
"I didn't say that. It might be but they've got their trace erased"
"Brother, are you saying brother Zeyan isn't capable?" Yumo asked
"I didn't but anything the boss erased ordinary people like Zeyan can never find it" Leng Xuanmo said
"Now I get it. When are you going to find it and get revenge on what they did for you?" Leng Yumo asked
"Yumo. Is that the assignment I gave to you?" He asked her and she kept her mouth shut