"What happened to Martin Lian?" Samson Zhang asked.
"He beat up a reporter—like, really beat him up—and got arrested by the police," Lily Bai said helplessly. "The company’s legal rep needs to bail him out, so I’m heading over."
The legal representative of White Entertainment is, of course, Lily Bai.
She went to the detention center and bailed Martin Lian out.
Then she took Martin Lian back to his place.
"Sorry, Lily, I’ve caused you trouble," Martin Lian said, face full of guilt.
"I should be the one apologizing—it’s me who dragged you into this mess!" Lily Bai replied.
A couple days ago, Martin Lian was surrounded by reporters asking about Lily Bai and Samson Zhang’s relationship.
He told them they were siblings, that Lily Bai was Samson Zhang’s foster sister.
But the reporters didn’t care at all. They kept shouting the nasty stuff from the internet, getting more and more outrageous.
Acting on impulse, Martin Lian went up and beat those two guys.
......
"Was it rough in there these past few days?" Lily Bai asked.
Martin Lian shook his head. "It was tough, yeah—but not because of being in detention. It was realizing that, as your senior... I couldn't do anything for you."
Lily Bai shook her head and said, "Martin Lian, Senior Sister, Ernie, Uncle Ernie—you guys from back home being with me is already the greatest support I could ask for."
In her heart, their place was simply as 'people from back home.'
Martin Lian’s expression turned bitter. He asked, "Lily, did Evan Lan... really leave you?"
Lily Bai was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"That suit-wearing bastard!" Martin Lian suddenly punched the wall.
Around the corner of the wall, someone suddenly stopped in their tracks.
Suit-wearing bastard?
Lily Bai looked at him in surprise. "Martin Lian, did you get something wrong?"
"What do you mean, wrong? You just had a baby, and Evan Lan ditched his wife and kid. Isn’t that the definition of scumbag in a suit?"
Lily Bai: "Uh... well... he had his reasons."
"Whatever his reasons," Senior Brother said, "he still shouldn’t have done it."
"No, it’s not like that..." Lily Bai was sure he misunderstood. "Actually... he did it for me... and he might not be alive anymore."
She never lets herself think ‘he’s not alive’ in her daily life.
But to keep Martin Lian from misunderstanding, she forced herself to say it out loud.
And then the pain started—sharp, deep, down to her bones and organs.
It was like Evan Lan’s spiritual power had pierced straight through her.
Martin Lian was shocked. "What? He’s gone?"
Lily Bai said, "To be precise, he’s missing. I’m searching everywhere for him."
Martin Lian frowned. "I knew it... He’s not that kind of guy."
Lily Bai: "He’s amazing—the best man in the world."
Martin Lian lowered his eyes and nodded. "Yeah."
"Alright, get inside! I’m heading back!"
Martin Lian reminded her to drive safe, then went inside.
Lily Bai turned and left too.
Someone emerged from behind the stairwell, watching the elevator descend.
......
Lily Bai got a call from Third Uncle Nathan Xiao.
He told her to bring the child to the Supreme Emperor’s Estate.
So she went.
Inside the Supreme Emperor’s Estate, a crowd had gathered.
Most of them were royals and nobles.
There were also military officers and Cabinet members.
When they saw Lily Bai walk in with her child, everyone started whispering and gossiping.
Lily Bai walked forward calmly, stood in front of Third Uncle, and asked, "Third Uncle, has something happened?"