Huli froze for a moment, then finally understood. He solemnly said, "No, even if it's blasphemous to say, if anything happens, I'll be the first to protect her."

Huayan's father didn't speak immediately, feeling a mix of emotions. Trust between people is relative, and he couldn't say how long Huli's promise would last.

Emotionally, he believed that even if Huayan did something wrong, Huli wouldn't truly hold it against her. "I hope that's the case. Xiaoyan has been through a lot, and since she lost her memory, she's been less restrained. If she acts impulsively in the future, please be more tolerant."

Huli smiled at this, recalling Huayan's antics after her memory loss. "Dad, don't worry."

"When can I stop worrying? Alright, let's go back. Otherwise, Xiaoyan will get anxious."

That night, Huayan was thoroughly ravished by Huli again. She couldn't fight back against his strength and ended up hitting his smooth chest multiple times in frustration.

For the next few days, the bruises on Huli's waist didn't fade. During the day, Huayan would occasionally poke at his bruises, distracting him while playing chess with Old Yang, causing him to lose several games in a row. Huli was left with grievances he couldn't express.

Huli didn't spend all his time leisurely with Huayan, playing chess. He also received news from the outside world through his contacts.

He learned about the alliance between the Ke and Cai families. Huli sneered at the news. With his absence, internal problems arose in the Hu family, and those who once flattered them now dared to bare their teeth.

They were too naive. Did they really think they could take on the Hu family? Huli was already aware of the internal situation and knew his father had begun purging the troublemakers. He himself had arranged for people to expose their ambitions quickly.

This rare opportunity had to be seized. By clearing out these troublemakers, Huli could ensure Huayan's safety when he eventually returned.

Huayan noticed Huli opening his laptop daily to receive files. The IP address was strictly disguised. She never truly intended for Huli to stay away from the Hu family.

"Huli, do you need to go out for a while?" Though they had signed confidentiality agreements upon entering the rest center, and outings were strictly controlled, it wasn't entirely impossible.

Huli smiled slightly, pulling Huayan onto his lap. "It's not necessary yet. Do you know? My cousin is engaged to Cai Cai. They might get married by the end of the year."

"Are you reluctant to let her go?"

"Reluctant about what?" Huli looked at Huayan in surprise.

Such a silly Huli made Huayan laugh. "About your old flame, Cai Cai. I remember she came all the way to the mainland for you and even set up a private restaurant just for you."

"I smell a strong scent of jealousy. It's really sour."

Huayan rolled her eyes at him. "You're just being vain. I'm not jealous."

Huli pretended to be heartbroken, covering his face. "That's really sad."

"Stop messing around. I want to ask, did your departure cause a lot of trouble for the Hu family?" Since she cared about Huli, she also cared about what he cared about. After all, a person should have more than just love and marriage but also other life goals.

"Every cloud has a silver lining. Just relax and keep feeding those white rabbits. When spring comes, I'll plant vegetables for you in our place. You'll be able to eat organic tomatoes and cucumbers."

When he had nothing to do, Huli was always online learning how to be a farmer. After all, Huayan often complained that today's vegetables and fruits had lost their original flavors, becoming increasingly tasteless. Who knew when everything would start tasting like plain water?

Suddenly, Huli's computer chimed with a notification. Both of them were startled, realizing it was an email.

After Huli read the contents, his face darkened. Huayan guessed that something had happened with the Hu family. "What's wrong?"

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"Hu Da reported that Hu Er is in Cai Cai's hands. She wants to meet me before she'll release him."

Huayan was silent for a moment and then said, "Then go." In fact, she knew Hu Er better than Huli. Hu Er was a quiet but humorous and interesting person who had always taken good care of her. She didn't want anything to happen to him. She could understand why Cai Cai wanted to see Huli—it was probably because she was getting married soon but couldn't let go of her old feelings and wanted a final meeting.

"Okay, you should change your clothes too. We'll go together."

"Alright."

Three days later, Huli and Huayan stepped into Haibin City again. On the surface, it was just the two of them, but Lao Qiao had sent some people in plain clothes to protect them. Hu Da and others were also waiting in Haibin City.

With Huayan carrying a bag and Huli pulling a small suitcase, they slowly walked out of the airport.

"Stepping in here again, why do I feel a sense of unfamiliarity? And the air here isn't as fresh as it is at the rest center."

"Put on your mask." As he spoke, he put a mask on her, which he had prepared earlier. "Of course the rest center is better. There are thousands of trees there purifying the air for us."

Huayan chuckled and said, "The way you talk, you sound like an old-time rich landlord."

"It's not easy being a rich landlord these days." If it weren't for Huayan, he'd still be living in this polluted air.

"What are we going to do next?"

"Let's check into the Jubin Hotel first. I imagine they already know we're here."

As they inquired at the Jubin Hotel, they ran into a long-lost acquaintance.

"Long time no see." Huayan smiled and greeted Shangguan Ning.

Shangguan Ning was followed by his secretary and others. He noticed Huayan and Huli as soon as they walked in, initially attracted by their mutual understanding and extraordinary aura.

Looking closely, he realized it was Huayan, whom he hadn't heard from in a long time. Since the Cheng family incident and his own father's retirement from the military, he'd been busy adjusting the company's future development path and expanding the business, rarely paying attention to other matters.

But in his stolen moments, he would open his wallet and stare at the photo of Huayan laughing brightly that he had secretly taken.

Now, seeing her in person, he was so excited his heart almost leapt out of his chest. This kind of impulsiveness hadn't happened to him in a long time. However, when he saw the ring on her finger, his heart ached.

"Long time no see. Congratulations on getting what you wanted." Shangguan Ning quickly composed himself and smiled.

"Thank you." Huli held Huayan's hand and smiled.

"Xiao Li, make arrangements. Let Miss Hua and her companion stay in the penthouse." The penthouse was Shangguan Ning's personal residence, used to host important guests. Its decor and service were unmatched.

The secretary glanced at Huayan and suddenly realized that the woman in the photo in the arbitration's wallet was the one in front of her, now married to another man. The man beside Miss Hua, with the same ring on his finger, must be the rival who won the contest. His aura and authority indeed surpassed that of the arbitrator.

In her heart, though, her own arbitrator was still the best. "Miss Hua, please follow me."

"My apologies. I'll treat you to a meal sometime." Shangguan Ning smiled.

"Alright, go ahead and get busy." As he spoke, Huli was already leading Huayan forward, not letting her say more. He didn't like the way Shangguan Ning looked at her. He thought to himself, “Good looks, but with that sorrowful expression, what is he trying to do? Does he think all women fall for that?”

Actually, Huli was feeling jealous. He knew Shangguan Ning wouldn't pester Huayan anymore.

From Secretary Li's words, Huayan and Huli learned that Christmas was in a few days and the hotel rooms were fully booked.

After sending Huayan and Huli to the penthouse, Secretary Li left and caught up with Shangguan Ning.

In the car, the silent Shangguan Ning finally asked, "Is everything arranged?"

Secretary Li smiled and said, "Don't worry, Arbitrator. You can trust me to handle it."

"Good. Do you know why they are here?"

"From my observations, they are not here for leisure. The specific reason is still unknown. Should I have someone keep an eye on them?" Secretary Li suggested tentatively.

Surprisingly, Shangguan Ning, who usually disliked meddling, pondered for a moment and then replied, "Arrange it, but make sure not to disturb them."

"Understood." Secretary Li's face briefly showed a hint of surprise because today she saw genuine emotion on the face of the usually mild and masked Shangguan Ning.

That evening, Cai Cai learned that Huli had returned to Haibin City. She didn't leak the news to anyone because of her own selfish reasons; she didn't want anyone to interfere with their matters. Of course, Huayan's presence deeply hurt her again.

The outside world knew nothing about Huli and Huayan's marriage, and Cai Cai certainly wouldn't know either. It was hard to predict her reaction when she saw the wedding rings that Huli had personally made.

After some consideration, to avoid further provoking Cai Cai, Huayan agreed not to accompany Huli to meet her. Huayan had no objections, but Huli couldn't help but grumble about her dealing with Shangguan Ning.

Huayan looked at him oddly, wondering if she had misjudged him and married a nagging man. Fortunately, Huli didn't know her thoughts; otherwise, she would "suffer" again.

"Are you going out again?" Huayan asked, puzzled, watching Huli get dressed after his shower.

Huli looked at Huayan, who was lounging on the sofa like a lazy cat, and felt a pang of longing. Unfortunately, he had matters to attend to. "Yes, I need to meet with Hu Da. There might be more people watching us in a few days."

"Didn't Lao Qiao arrange for people to help us shake off any tails?"

Huli gently ruffled her damp hair and said, "I don't want any unexpected incidents, so I'm being extra cautious."

Huayan gave Huli a kiss, touched by his thoughtfulness.

That night, Huli met with Hu Da to discuss the rescue plan for Hu Er. Additionally, Hu Da brought Huli an injection.