389: [Bonus chapter] You are a businessman, not a mafia or a gangster.

[Bonus chapter] You are a businessman, not a mafia or a gangster.

"This is not the topic I was expecting when I came back here. But yes, Heaven. I can… if I have enough reason to do so."1

Another wave of silence descended in the master's bedroom to the point the silence was somewhat deafening. Both of them stared at each other, studying each other's faces as if studying each other's reactions. Dominic was trying to see his wife's reaction to this honest answer, while Heaven was trying to see if he was simply humoring her. 

Dominic wasn't. 

He was dead serious. 

"Most people would say, "they will if they have no other choice," but you worded it in a way that's a little concerning," she muttered, licking her slightly swollen lips from earlier activity. 

"Is it?" Dominic pressed his lips as he wondered. "Well, the incidents in the past made me realize many things. Grandma is right. I was too soft. I might end up dead if I continue to be that way. If not, the people I treasure will pay the price."

"..."

'Just what sort of advice does Grandma Zhu give her grandson?'

'Now I'm a little worried about my son,'she thought, thinking Sebastian would stay in the old residence with his grandparents. 

"I already mentioned what happened to me when I was young. Since then, Grandma had always guided me every step of the way. Although my dad and mom are still there, she always says they were the reason she could never die in peace," Dominic explained, keeping it short and simple. "They were too soft for her opinion, but then again, her other son is better at handling the business. There wasn't a balance."

"If she thinks Father is too soft, why did she make him her heir and not the other one?"

"Because Leon Zhu is far too ambitious... and inhumane. It's obvious with how he planned to kill his nephew without remorse." Dominic shrugged. "I don't like this conversation, Heaven. I'm not trying to run away from the past, but I want to spend this day with just you and me."

"But I want to know more about you."

"What about me?" he asked, blinking ever so tenderly. "Will you let me know you more?"

'Don't you know me already?' was the first thought that crossed her mind, but quickly realized how silly that was. 

Dominic never asked her any questions. Or, to be precise, he never pressed on the matter if she said she wasn't ready to talk about it. Now that she thought about it, that short exchange had always happened many times in the past several months whenever she was deep in thought. 

"What do you want to know?" she inquired as she picked up the cutlery. "It's a little strange that even after five years of marriage and countless love-making sessions, we are still in the getting-to-know stage."

Dominic chuckled, taking the other plate that was on the bedside table. "I'm not sure if that is strange since I only married once."

"Same." She shook her head, chuckling. 

Both of them took the first bite of their toasted bread, chewing slowly before setting their attention back to each other. 

"So?" Heaven was the first to break the silence. "What do you want to know? Is this about last night?"

Dominic pondered for a second. "Who is Bear Cruel to you?"

"Huh?"

"I just noticed that you and Mr. Cruel seemed to be very close," he pointed out. "I'm not jealous of him as a man, but I'm curious. Why do you act as if you knew him longer than you should have?"

'Should I lie?' was the first thought that came to her mind. 

Dominic's brows rose as he took another bite, eyes still on her as he patiently waited for her response. 

'No,' she told herself. 'He will know I am lying.'

Her mouth parted, but then she pressed her lips into a tight slash. Of all the things he could ask, she didn't expect this question. After all, it didn't seem to her that she was close with Bear. At least, for others, it wouldn't appear that way since Bear was her bodyguard. 

It was inevitable for Heaven and Bear to talk regarding her schedule since he was like her tail, the shadow that followed her around wherever she go. However, she didn't expect Dominic to notice that her relationship with Bear wasn't just as it appeared. 

"You can say I know him way before," she answered after some time of thinking. 

"Why did you pretend you didn't?"

"Because he doesn't know me."

Deep lines appeared between Dominic's brows. "That doesn't make sense."

"It will make sense if you know who I am."

"Who are you?"

Another wave of silence reigned in the master's bedroom, as she could only stare at him. If only she knew this conversation would backfire on her, she wouldn't even have started it. 

"The new management," she blurted out, just to put an end to the prolonged silence building up between them. 

Dominic kept his eyes fixed on her while munching on the toast. He assessed the look on her face, wondering how come she looked honest despite giving him such a nonsense answer. 

'She wasn't acting for sure,' he told himself. 'I've seen her act and no matter how convincing her talent was, I still know it's acting. How strange.'

"My turn." Heaven cleared her throat. "Are you really planning to venture into the mining business?"

"Yes." Dominic nodded.

"But it seems dangerous."

"It can be." Dominic rocked his head. "But the surface I stand on is already dangerous."

Heaven emptied her mouth as she tried to make sense of his intention. "Why? What's in this business that you so want that you'd risk yourself to earn enemies?"

"I already have tons of enemies, Heaven," he confessed bluntly. 

"And you're adding more?"

"Whether I do something or not, my name Dominic Zhu already warrants unwanted attention," Dominic stressed. "I might as well do what I want instead of cowering in fear, waiting for someone to take me down just because I am Dominic Zhu."

"Darling…" Heaven let out a deep sigh. "You are a businessman, not a mafia or a gangster."

His lips pressed while the side of his mouth curled up. "That was my first thought when I received my first death threat just a week after becoming the CEO of the LYON Group."

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