Chapter 426 - THE FLOWER BLOOMED
Han Sheng Ming hugged her for a good while and then looked at her up and down before commenting, "Ah Luo, tell you big brother the truth. Did Xiao Yuan starve you to death? Why do you look so skinny?"
Han Luo grinned at his complaint. "I'm always skinny and you know that. How are you doing?"
Han Sheng Ming complained, "How do you think I was? I missed you on Christmas Eve!"
Han Luo smiled broadly at him. "You had to spend some time with your family, hadn't you? How are they doing?"
"Only you think of them when they don't," he mumbled in annoyance.
Han Luo burst into laughter. If only her aunt heard her beloved son say this – she would've died in heartache.
"Xiao Ming, how long will you keep her standing in the cold? Let her in," Tang Yujin spoke from inside the house.
"Yes, yes, little Luo Luo, come inside." Han Sheng Ming literally dragged her inside.
"You have gotten quite beautiful, little Luo," Tang Yujin complimented her. His eyes were looking for something that had changed within her but he couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Aren't I always beautiful?" Han Luo asked smugly.
"Yes, yes you are." Tang Yujin rubbed her head with affection.
Both Han Sheng Ming and Tang Yujin tactfully avoided talking to Mo Yuan. Mo Yuan could guess beforehand. He knew they would be upset. That's why he wasn't worried. He had finally plucked the flower that bloomed. He was content.
"Welcome home, Miss Han," Butler Noah politely greeted her while bowing. "Good to have you home."
Han Luo beamed after seeing him. "Thank you, Noah. How have you been?"
Noah answered, "I'm doing just fine. I hope you have been well. I've prepared a warm bath for you."
"Ah, this is what I need. Thank you so much, Noah. And, please prepare hot chocolate for me," Han Luo instructed him like a true mistress.
"As you wish," Noah replied.
After bathing and distributing gifts to everyone, they began talking about the real issue.
Han Luo shared her opinion, "Since both of them were attacked almost at the same time, I think their target is me. Mian and Beth are my friends. If someone has grudge against me, they will try to harm them. Now the question is – who is the culprit?"
Tang Yujin added, "I also thought the same thing. I mean, it was so obvious that they were targeting you. As soon as Sean contacted me, I investigated this issue."
"Wait," Han Luo interrupted him. "Sean contacted you! When?"
Sean was Beth's boyfriend and Manager of her family company. He was also close to Han Luo, Han Sheng Ming, and Tang Yujin.
Tang Yujin answered her, "He called me when their clients began to stop contacting them. He was recently promoted. Right after he was promoted they lost several clients. Everyone was blaming him. He asked for my help. I had to help a friend."
Han Luo was surprised. "Then you knew from the very beginning! Why didn't you tell me?"
Tang Yujin shrugged. "At that time, we didn't think it was related to you at all. Zheng Mian's job crisis began a month after Beth's company problem. Besides, the culprit who was behind this incident was in no way related to you. You have never met them."
Han Sheng Ming butted in, "Them? Plural? We are dealing with more than one person? Who is it?"
Tang Yujin took out a blue file and placed it on the tea table. "Check it for yourself," he stated.
Before Han Sheng Ming could take it, Han Luo snatched it. She was curious to find out her enemy. She opened the file. "…Richard Co." She glanced at them with a puzzled expression. "I've definitely never encountered them."
Han Sheng Ming took the file from her and exclaimed, "Richard Co?! Why would they attack you?"
"That's my question," Han Luo frowned. She was in deep thought.
"My men had done some research on the family members of Chairman, President, Vice President, Managers, and Executive Directors of the Richard Co's. There was no conflict between you and their family members," Tang Yujin narrated whatever he found.
"Then why would they do something to Mian and Beth?" Han Sheng Ming was confused.
Mo Yuan finally threw a remark, "If you dug further, you could have guessed the relationship between the Vice President and his mistress."
"Mistress?" Tang Yujin tried to recall, "Oh, you mean Jasmine?"
"Jasmine?!" Han Luo asked. "You mean the Rocking Hell?"
Tang Yujin answered, "Yes, that's her. The leading singer, Jasmine. But, she is still in Jail. She had no contact with the outside world."
Mo Yuan explained, "She contacted the Vice President of Richard Co. through Alex right before Ah Luo went to meet her in jail. She certainly wanted to take revenge on Ah Luo. However, The Vice President of Richard Co. realized after Ah Luo's first accomplishment that he couldn't harm her because their President had been trying to work with the Han Corporation for two years now. To keep the promise to his mistress, he had to do something at least. That's why he attacked Ah Luo's friends."
Han Sheng Ming flipped the papers in the file and spoke in disgust, "How could a fifty year old man have a twenty year old mistress? The girl Jasmine has no sense of taste."
"It's money and power she was after." Tang Yujin glanced at Mo Yuan. "I'm impressed that your men dug further. How did they find the connection?"
"I've been trailing her since she and her group attacked Ah Luo," Mo Yuan stated.
"No wonder she was threatening me that day. If I could realize her plan beforehand…" Han Luo lamented. Her friends were suffering because of her short-sighted plans.
Mo Yuan held her hand and coaxed her in a gentle voice, "Nothing would have changed, Ah Luo. Don't forget that she tried to kill you.. Moreover, how could you realize her plan beforehand? You are not a mind reader."