The wooden beauty of Young Master Sheng(236-240)

Chapter 236: A Formal Confession!


"Hmm? Borrow money?"


"Hush, hush, hush! Sheng Mingsi isn't nearby, right? It's because of the last misunderstanding; I got into trouble. Even though the misunderstanding has been cleared, my brother no longer trusts me. He froze my card and cut off all my money!"


Jiang Chenchen listened to the voice on the phone and glanced at the person beside her. "Ah Si heard it."


"..."


Ye Xi adjusted his expression and took a deep breath. "Chenchen, lend me some money this time. Let me get through this difficult time. I'll definitely repay you in the future!"


"But I... have no money."


"What?! You don't have what Sheng Mingsi has! He is your husband, so that money is also yours!"


His voice was a bit loud, a bit excited.


Jiang Chenchen took the phone away from her ear; it was too loud. She looked at Sheng Mingsi but didn't know if he heard.


To the other end of the phone, she said, "I can't; I already owe him a lot."


Ye Xi despairingly said, "Chenchen, are you not helping a friend?"


Jiang Chenchen was also in a difficult position. At this moment, Sheng Mingsi reached out, indicating for her to give him the phone.


"Ah Si? talk to him."


Jiang Chenchen handed him the phone.


Sheng Mingsi took the phone and said, "What do you need the money for?"


"Sheng, bro, you must help me. I really don't want to go through these days of being cut off at any time again. I want to rely on my own hands to strive for a living!"


"So?"


"I want to go abroad to seek opportunities. Now, I'm only lacking travel expenses. Lend me some, and I have friends over there who will pick me up."


"I can lend it to you, but it comes with high interest. Still want to borrow?"


Ye Xi covered his chest, exaggeratedly saying, "So dark... truly a businessman!"


Sheng Mingsi's tone was cold, "I heard that."


"Never mind, never mind, I was just talking nonsense. If it's high, it's high. I'll repay you once I make money in the future!"


"Fine."


Sheng Mingsi was about to hang up, but Ye Xi said, "Wait! Let me say something to Chenchen!"


Sheng Mingsi raised an eyebrow, hesitated for a moment, then handed the phone back to Jiang Chenchen.


Jiang Chenchen took the phone, "Hmm?"


Ye Xi whispered, "Chenchen, this time, I'm going to L country. When you have time, come and visit. I'll call you by then!"


"Oh, okay."


Hearing her response, Ye Xi immediately intercepted and said, "Chenchen, please help me put in a good word, so that Sheng can be less strict! I'm afraid only you have this ability. Please!"


"Uh..."


Jiang Chenchen wanted to say she didn't have such ability. The other side begged once again and then decisively hung up.


"What was that?" Sheng Mingsi took off his seatbelt and asked her abruptly.


Jiang Chenchen answered subconsciously, "Don't be so strict."


Sheng Mingsi raised an eyebrow, looked at her with a deep gaze, "What do you think?"


"Not at all!" Jiang Chenchen quickly replied after coming back to her senses.


He chuckled, a hint of a smile appeared, and he reached over to rub her head, "Well, if there's anything you're not satisfied with, let me know, because I also want to be a qualified... boyfriend."


After saying this, his gaze was deep and serious.


Jiang Chenchen met his eyes, her gaze flickering. "Ah Si, is this a confession?"


"Do you want to hear it?"


"What?"


"I love you."


His voice was not loud but clear in the dark night. The crisp tone carried endless love, tenderness, and a hint of shyness that often accompanied a first confession.


Originally considered a trick of youth, but after saying it out loud, it felt particularly exhilarating. Especially watching the girl in front of him, blushing cheeks and teary eyes, it felt even more real.


However, everything seemed different. Tears unexpectedly overflowed from her eyes. Did his confession startle her?!


Sheng Mingsi became somewhat flustered. He reached out to touch her cheek. "I'm sorry..."


Jiang Chenchen, a petite figure in front of him, shook her head, crying like a tearful beauty, meeting his bewildered gaze. "Ah Si, I love you too."


Sheng Mingsi's figure stiffened, his thoughts suddenly paused, staring at her blankly. It turned out that being confessed to by someone you liked would be so touching.


Was she crying because of this?


Jiang Chenchen's voice came, no longer calm and steady, but slightly excited and choked, "As, do you know? You are the second person in this world, after my parents, to say they love me."


Sheng Mingsi looked at her intently, pulled her into his arms, and gently said above her head, "From now on, I will love you too, until the day I die."


The stars in the night would bear witness to this.


He said deeply.


...


The next morning, Jiang Chenchen and Sheng Mingsi set off for her old house.


While in the car, Jiang Chenchen received a photo sent by Ye Xi.


The background of the photo was on a plane, and the person in it was Lu Su, sleeping with an eye mask and wrapped in a blanket.


Ye Xi posed a "V" sign in the corner of the photo.


Then he sent a message, "Guess what? I unexpectedly met your rumored boyfriend in the entertainment industry!"


Seeing this, Jiang Chenchen frowned and quickly typed, "My boyfriend is Sheng Mingsi."


"Wow, Jiang Chenchen, are you showing off? I can also have a boyfriend very soon!"


Sent it immediately and then retracted.


"No, no, no! I misspoke. It's a girlfriend!"


Jiang Chenchen: "..."


Ye Xi felt that the ellipsis she sent was mocking him, so he shut off his phone in embarrassment and walked outside the airport. Because he was in a hurry, the person in front of him suddenly stopped, and he accidentally bumped into him.


He stepped back a few steps, flipped his dazzling red hair, and said, "Brother, what are you daydreaming about?!"


The person in front turned around, looking somewhat dazed, and apologized, "I'm sorry."


Ye Xi stared at his face, suddenly cheerful. "The big star meets again?"


...


...


Jiang Chenchen and Sheng Mingsi arrived at her old house. Due to the conflict the day before, the old man, who suffered some injuries, was lying in bed. The old lady was taking care of him and refused to see anyone, especially strangers.


Upon hearing the knock on the door, the old lady didn't even go out.


Sheng Mingsi stood outside the yard, thought for a moment, and realized that the old man might be a bit afraid after the incident of forcefully buying the house happened yesterday.


He lifted his head to see Jiang Chenchen rolling up her sleeves and climbing over the wall. His eyebrow twitched, and he quickly stepped forward to pick her up.


"Chenchen, let's wait in the car. I have a solution."


Jiang Chenchen was carried down but not put down directly; she was directly taken into the car.


This...


"As, aren't you tired?"


"You're very light."


"Oh."


Sheng Mingsi lifted her into the car, then closed the window. What happened inside couldn't be seen from the outside. He took out a bag from the car, pulled out a white robe and nurse uniform from inside, and handed it to her.


"Put this on."












Chapter 237: Forgotten Information


"Huh? You've prepared everything?" Jiang Chenchen was somewhat surprised.


"Yeah, I did some research in advance. There was a conflict yesterday, and someone tried to forcibly buy this house from the elderly couple. So, they are likely to be cautious now."


As Sheng Mingsi spoke, he took off his suit jacket, loosened his tie, threw it aside, unbuttoned two buttons with one hand, appearing more casual and less formal.


Then he put on a white coat.


Jiang Chenchen understood his intention. They were going to play the roles of doctors or nurses and knock on the door of the elderly couple.


So, she also went to change her clothes. It was still hot at the end of August, and she didn't intend to wear another layer. She put the nurse uniform aside, took off her top, and put on the new one.


This series of actions left Sheng Mingsi stunned, unable to stop her even if he wanted to.


She had changed quickly.


But he shouldn't have seen what he shouldn't have seen!


"Ah Si?" Jiang Chenchen noticed that he seemed a bit stunned, so she waved her hand in front of his eyes. "I'm done changing."


Sheng Mingsi regained his composure, feeling his throat dry. He cleared his throat, tugged at his collar, and then opened the car door to get out. "Let's go."


At the same time, he picked up a medical kit.


Someone grabbed the hem of his clothes from behind.


Sheng Mingsi paused and turned around. "Hmm?"


Jiang Chenchen handed him an opened water bottle. "Are you thirsty? Have some water."


Seeing this, Sheng Mingsi's eyelid twitched. He took the water bottle, drank a sip, and glanced at her. Under his dark and deep gaze, there were hidden thoughts.


As she looked back at him, her straightforward and pure eyes seemed to inadvertently exude an attraction, making a subtle warmth appear unnoticed on his cold and noble face.


"Cough, cough..."


He quickly looked away, almost choking. He put down the water bottle, closed the cap, and threw it onto the seat.


Remaining calm, he said, "Chenchen, let's go."


Jiang Chenchen got out of the car and walked to his side. Together, they walked outside the yard.


This time, they pretended to be community medical staff coming to visit and help the elderly. The old lady came out, half-believing and half-doubting. After asking about their origins and hearing a seemingly plausible explanation, she became somewhat convinced.


She came forward to open the door.


But then she stopped.


Looking at Sheng Mingsi, she hesitated. "You seem..."


Sheng Mingsi calmly said, "A celebrity? Many people say that."


The old lady found it unlikely. How could that giant figure in the business world appear here? Seeing that they were medical professionals from the community, her expression relaxed a bit. She opened the courtyard door and let them in.


As they walked into the house, Jiang Chenchen became immersed in memories with each step.


The overall layout of the yard was unchanged, but there were more flowers and everything was well-maintained. It was full of vibrant vitality after the peak of summer.


Jiang Chenchen's gaze fell on the laurel tree on the side of the yard. Her mother had said that the tree was planted the year she was born. Now it had grown thick and tall, with lush branches and leaves.


The tree was there, the old house was there, but her parents were not.


Too many memories rushed to her mind, and she became immersed in reminiscence. However, something crucial, something forgotten, flashed through her mind, but she couldn't grasp it; it snapped off.


Headache... The more she tried to recall what it was, the more elusive it became.


Headache... The more she tried to remember, the more elusive it became.


She stopped in pain, clutching her head with her hands, an anxious look on her face.


Sheng Mingsi, who had been silently observing her every move by her side, saw this and his eyes darkened. He called out her name with concern, reaching out to touch her head, whispering, "Chenchen, don't be afraid, I'm here."


Hearing his low voice, Jiang Chenchen snapped out of her extremely agitated thoughts. She looked up at him, her eyes extremely red. "Ah Si..."


Sheng Mingsi held her hand, and a comforting warmth transmitted from his slightly cool palm. "It's okay, I'm here. Let's go inside and check on the old people."


The old lady, who had heard the commotion, turned around with some confusion. "Why is the little girl crying again?"


Sheng Mingsi, still by Jiang Chenchen's side, calmly explained, "It's her first day of internship, and she's a bit scared of giving injections."


The old lady, upon hearing that the young girl was an intern, felt a bit concerned. However, seeing the doctor's serious and composed demeanor, she found him trustworthy despite his young age. "Little girl, learn well. Everyone has a first time; crying won't solve anything."


Jiang Chenchen rubbed her eyes, looked up, and hurriedly explained, "No, no. I'm not afraid of injections. It's just... I saw a snake in the grass earlier, and it scared me."


The old lady was a bit alarmed at this revelation. "Really? Oh my, my husband is sick, and I dare not come to this side of the yard with flowers and plants. Come inside quickly, and I'll sprinkle some medicine later."


Jiang Chenchen and Sheng Mingsi followed the old lady inside.


Sheng Mingsi slowed down beside her and whispered, "Lying?"


"There really was a snake, the kind that blends with the soil."


"A venomous snake. Be careful in the yard later."


"It's okay; I'm not afraid of snakes."


"?"


Not only was she not afraid, but after checking the old man's body in the room, she even volunteered to help catch the snake to prevent the elderly from being bitten in the future.


The old man, being kind-hearted, allowed them to catch and release the snake. After dealing with it, Jiang Chenchen and Sheng Mingsi were invited to stay for dinner.


Jiang Chenchen quickly agreed. She wanted to stay a bit longer; many objects in the old house were still there, as if her parents were still around.


Sheng Mingsi helped the old lady cook, displaying good cooking skills and his tall, handsome appearance won the old lady's favor. She even welcomed them to come again in the future.


While casually chatting, Sheng Mingsi subtly inquired about the old couple's intention to sell the house. The old lady explained that it was merely a place to live in their old age, with no special significance. Although their words couldn't be completely trusted, Sheng Mingsi had already verified that the couple had no connection with Jiang Chenchen's parents or the research institute.


If there were hidden secrets in the old house, they would have been discovered by others who had already searched the place thoroughly. However, there was still a possibility of unnoticed hidden areas.


Jiang Chenchen, during the time they were cooking, checked every corner of the house. In the end, she came to the tree in the yard, touched the trunk, and felt countless threads of thoughts swirling in her mind.













Chapter 238: Twenty Years Old


In the end, she still couldn't sort out her thoughts.


Feeling restless, she climbed to the top of the tree, sitting on a branch amidst the lush foliage, gazing up at the sky.


The azure sky stretched above, the sun hanging high, and wispy clouds moved gently in the wind, seeming close yet far away.


She stared at the sky, gradually emptying her mind.


It felt like she had suddenly returned to countless moments when she used to gaze at the sky unconsciously, as if driven by an unconscious force to look up.


What was she looking at? She suddenly felt lost.


Since she regained consciousness, she hadn't stared at the sky day and night. She thought she used to do it to find traces of her parents, as if they should be up there.


But why did she think like that?


Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when someone called her name from below the tree.


Jiang Chenchen lowered her head to see Sheng Mingsi standing beneath the tree. He was wearing a white coat, and his brows and eyes looked stern, resembling a pure angel.


A trace of concern flashed in his deep gaze.


"Chenchen, be careful. Come down and have dinner."


He reached out his hand, as if ready to catch her.


Jiang Chenchen, seeing this, felt a bit dazed. The familiar scene of being in the house, called to dinner, felt like they had known each other for a very long time.


"Ah Si, can you catch me?"


Sheng Mingsi looked up at her, his deep eyes saying, "Yes."


She descended from the tree, jumping down to a branch close to him.


Like a graceful butterfly descending.


He held her firmly, his strong arms tightening around her like a little princess. He lowered his head to look at her, his voice unexpectedly husky. "What are you thinking about?"


Jiang Chenchen, facing his deep black eyes, thought about the strange thoughts from earlier and asked, somewhat bewildered, "Does something exist in the sky? Are there gods?"


"What you believe in is what exists. From a scientific perspective, the universe contains everything: other planets, all the unknowns."


After finishing his words, Sheng Mingsi saw her lowering her head in contemplation. After a while, she raised her head again.


"Ah Si, let's go eat."


"Did you remember something?"


He could see the change on her face even though she was expressionless, and asked with some concern.


Jiang Chenchen tugged at his clothes, indicating he should put her down. When she descended from his arms, she looked at him with confusion and said, "Maybe there is something in the sky, but I've forgotten it."


Sheng Mingsi pondered for a moment at her words, then lowered his head, reaching out to touch her head. In a patient and gentle tone, he said, "Don't worry, you'll remember in time."


After they finished their meal, they left the place.


On the way back, Sheng Mingsi bought a car full of ice cream, clearing away the muddled thoughts in Jiang Chenchen's mind.


For the next three days, Jiang Chenchen still couldn't recall anything significant.


However, returning to the old house seemed to make her feel more indifferent.


The elderly couple enjoyed chatting with her, reminiscing about the past and sharing stories about the old house.


Talking about the tree in the yard, they mentioned how resilient it was, enduring lightning strikes during thunderstorms. Fortunately, there was no significant damage, just a few broken branches. The laurel tree continued to thrive, lush with leaves.


Jiang Chenchen visited less often after the school started, fully immersed in her studies. She chose to live on campus in college and coincidentally attended the same school as Miss Feng Jia, Feng Xiaozhi.


However, Feng Xiaozhi was two grades above her.


Feng Xiaozhi often interned at Qin Yansheng's private hospital and would occasionally bring Jiang Chenchen along. Learning through both theory and practice accelerated their progress.


After starting school, Jiang Chenchen became somewhat busier. It wasn't until her birthday that she first visited the Sheng family's old mansion and formally met Mrs. Sheng.


Mrs. Sheng no longer opposed anything and didn't show excessive affection, but she solemnly presented Jiang Chenchen with a gift, a recognition of her identity.


"Jiang Chenchen, don't betray Mingsi and us."


Sheng Mingsi, standing nearby, raised his eyebrows slightly.


Jiang Chenchen accepted the gift box from her hands and earnestly said, "Absolutely not."


Mrs. Sheng sighed lightly at her words, realizing there were rarely absolute things in the world. Still, the current attitude made her feel sincere.


Gu Mingmei also handed over her gift. "Chenchen, happy birthday! If possible, I'll give you a gift every year from now on!"


Her brother never celebrated birthdays, and she never felt the sisterly vibe, but with her brother's girlfriend being obedient, she treated her like a sister and cherished her.


It had been a long time since there was such a lively gathering at the Sheng family's old mansion. They all gave gifts, expressing their intentions.


However, Sheng Mingsi did not give a gift.


Jiang Chenchen looked at him expectantly, as if she were a child insisting on receiving a gift, especially from the person closest to her.


Feeling her intense gaze, Sheng Mingsi smiled helplessly and turned to her. "Chenchen, after dinner, I'll take you somewhere."


"Where?"


"It's a secret for now."


Gu Mingmei, who overheard, clicked her tongue twice. "Ah Si is quite good at this."


Originally thought to be a somewhat wayward brother, he turned out to be good at coaxing his girlfriend.


Mrs. Sheng glanced at her coldly. "Mingmei, stop only focusing on Mingsi. You've been divorced for almost a year. Do you plan to continue like this?"


"Mom, don't bother about me. I'm quite comfortable alone. Marrying Zhao Shitian was my biggest mistake, and I won't make such mistakes again in the future."


"Fine, see things clearly for yourself."


After this dinner, Sheng Mingsi took Jiang Chenchen to the place he had kept secret.


In the pitch-black cemetery at night, Jiang Chenchen's parents' graves were illuminated by Sheng Mingsi's flashlight. Under the moonlight, he held her hand and led her to meet her parents.


It was Jiang Chenchen's first time here.


Since gaining consciousness, she couldn't truly face it, but today, on her twentieth birthday, guided by Sheng Mingsi, she came here.


Some things had to be faced personally.


She understood this principle but hadn't taken this step. Today, Sheng Mingsi brought her here.


"Chenchen, you've grown up. Say goodbye to them. In the future, with me around, I'll take care of you on their behalf."


Jiang Chenchen knelt down silently, tears flowing.


"Mom, Dad, I have a family now."


As the night deepened, the night wind howled, but the embrace and hearts remained warm.


...


Jiang Chenchen spent another winter here. When winter ended, she met Zhan Chen again.


Zhan Chen, coming from Country A, appeared even paler and weaker. Although blood was supposed to be beneficial to him, why did he look more frail?


Sitting in a wheelchair, Zhan Chen looked at the person on the opposite side of the coffee table. It seemed like he wanted to take a few more glances, to remember forever.


"Chenchen, this time I came to tell you some things I've investigated. I'm also handing over the Red Flame to you."













Chapter 239: Fascinating Possession


Red Flame is the young man from the underground morgue in the private hospital.


He still remains uncontrollable by anyone, but after deliberate training, he can follow some commands from Zhan Chen.


Used by Zhan Chen to eliminate the prince of Country A, Red Flame is the code name he gave him, like a designated designation.


Currently, Red Flame is wanted in Country A. Although it's more of a formality, as the powerful people behind the scenes are from Zhan Chen's faction.


However, Zhan Chen brought him back and handed him over to Jiang Chenchen because he discovered a secret in this young man's body.


The artificial blood circulation system he possesses contains blood that matches Jiang Chenchen's. This rare and unique blood type appeared in an artificial being.


The problem lies here.


Originally, Zhan Chen could continue the research, waiting until there were good results before informing Jiang Chenchen. But recently, the rate of deterioration in his body has been too fast. He's afraid he won't live long enough to see that day.


He will never tell her the truth because, with her blood flowing in his veins, the initial improvement led to significant rejection reactions in the body. This sudden change, combined with the genetic issues, placed this body on the brink of death.


The doctor's suggestion was to change blood as soon as possible, a major operation he refused. Anyway, he won't live more than two years. If letting this last trace of his bloodline disappear from his body because of this would make him unwilling.


"Chenchen, perhaps Red Flame is the key to unraveling the mystery behind you. So I brought him here and handed him over to you. If possible, please let me and Sheng Mingsi meet."


He said these words with gathered strength. His face was pale to the extreme, and his moon-like eyes seemed to be covered with a mist. Yet, his lips carried a gentle and ultimate smile, casual and indifferent.


Jiang Chenchen, after learning about the bioengineered young man, was greatly surprised. Could it be that the young man was the result of the research data carried by the missing director of the research institute?


Under the shock of this news, she overlooked Zhan Chen's physical condition.


"Then... where is the place you found Red Flame? Any clues?"


Seeing her fluctuating emotions, Zhan Chen leaned forward slightly with his thin and weak body, tightening his spine. "It has been searched. Crossing the forest, in a village surrounded by mountains, there is a secret base laboratory. However, it has been abandoned and suffered severe damage. As for the missing director, whether he is alive or not, my people are searching. The scope can be narrowed down, but there's some resistance."


"Resistance? From the upper echelons of Country A?"


"That's what puzzles me. If it involves the high levels, then your existence cannot be peaceful. The psychiatric hospital here is not well-defended. It would be easy to take away a person. So, what does it mean? They don't know of my existence?"


"So, I speculate that after the director left here, carrying a large amount of experimental data, he went to Country A, did not provide your whereabouts, and did not reveal your identity, and he's already dead."


After finishing his analysis, feeling extremely uncomfortable, he suppressed the discomfort in his chest, enduring it as he said to her, "So, Chenchen, I want to meet Sheng Mingsi. I need him to join forces with me on this matter."


In the past, he detested all the men close to Jiang Chenchen. He even wanted to kill them all because she could only belong to him.


But he figured out a little bit. The blood in his body, all from her, had long merged in the blood in his body. There was no possession more fascinating than this.


He couldn't protect her for a lifetime, so he could only entrust her to a man with relatively equal strength, someone he could trust to get through this final time.


Jiang Chenchen regained her composure and asked, "When do you want to see Ah Si?"


As she spoke, she noticed that he looked very wrong. "Zhan Chen, what's wrong? Are you okay?"


Zhan Chen pressed one hand against his chest. The blood that was about to spew out was forcibly suppressed. However, it overflowed from the corners of his lips. He didn't want to waste any of it and didn't want Chenchen's blood to leave his body.

With a soft hum, he reached out to wipe away the blood at the corner of his mouth. He extended his tongue to lick the blood off his slender fingers, and the veins under the skin on the back of his hand were distinctly visible. This forbidden action seemed particularly taboo.


After completing these actions, he wiped his hands with a handkerchief and looked at her.


With a weak and hoarse voice, he slowly said, "Chenchen, don't call me by my name. Call me brother."


Jiang Chenchen had already stood up and walked to his side, expressing some anxiety. "Let's go to the hospital. You just vomited blood!"


His pale skin showed a tendency to turn blue, indicating a severe illness.


Zhan Chen gently shook his head, stubbornly saying, "Chenchen, you haven't called me brother."


"Brother, let's go to the hospital. I know a skilled doctor. Let's go see him." Jiang Chenchen tried to take him away, but he grabbed her wrist.


"No need. The doctor is outside."


He took out a bottle of pills from his pocket and swallowed a few. After drinking some water, he rested for a while in the wheelchair, gradually recovering his strength. Then he looked at the worried person in front of him. This Jiang Chenchen, in such a state, truly made people reluctant.


If it weren't for this broken body, how could he willingly let go?


He looked up at her. "Chenchen, ask Sheng Mingsi to come see me at 7:30 tonight, at my estate."


It was currently 1:00 in the afternoon.


There was enough time for his body to recover a bit. Since getting off the plane, he had almost had no rest until he came to see Jiang Chenchen.


Finally, he couldn't hold on any longer.


"Chenchen, can you come back to the estate with me?"


Jiang Chenchen nodded. "Yes, I'll take you home."


Zhan Chen weakly forced a smile, and she pushed his wheelchair. He closed his eyes in exhaustion. A doctor checked his body in the car and directly connected him to medical instruments.


Jiang Chenchen could see that he looked worse this time compared to the last time.


Why did he say something different to Fang Yiqing?


Back at Zhan Chen's estate, Jiang Chenchen stayed by his bedside. Once he fell asleep, she left the room to inquire about his condition from the doctor. However, there was no disclosure of any information.


So, she found a quiet corner and called her cousin, Fang Yiqing.


"Chenchen, I'm about to undergo surgery. I don't have time to talk to you. I'll call you after the surgery."


The call was abruptly ended.


It had been a long time since they last contacted. Apparently, Fang Yiqing was no longer working as the school doctor and was now working in a hospital.


The phone almost immediately rang again after she hung up.


She quickly picked it up. It was Sheng Mingsi, and his urgent and worried voice came through the phone.


"Chenchen, where are you?"

















Chapter 240: Shared Goals


"Ah Si, I wanted to talk to you about something."


Jiang Chenchen provided the address, emphasizing that she was absolutely not under any coercion.


"Zhan Chen is seriously ill, and his arrival from Country A signifies an important discovery. Can you come over tonight?" Jiang Chenchen's voice conveyed a sense of urgency.


Sheng Mingsi's tense nerves remained unchanged, and upon hearing this, it seemed like something clicked in his mind. He fell silent for a moment.


Thinking that he might be too busy with work to come, Jiang Chenchen said, "If you're busy, forget it. Don't force yourself."


Sheng Mingsi snapped back to attention, and his tone became slightly more elevated. "No, I'll come tonight. It's just that... Chenchen, what do you take him for?"


The last part of his sentence suddenly lowered, and his usually cold and reserved voice seemed to carry a hint of uneasy inquiry.


Sensing the sudden change in tone, Jiang Chenchen admitted frankly, "He's my brother. I only see him as a brother."


Sheng Mingsi's pitch-black eyes lowered, and a shadow covered his handsome face. It turned out that he, too, was that damned brother.


Without hearing Jiang Chenchen's response, Sheng Mingsi asked with some concern, "Chenchen, what's wrong?"


"What about me?"


A suppressed voice emerged.


Things that were already confirmed could still be disrupted by certain special factors, causing fears of the day of loss, even though it might just be unfounded paranoia.


But these thoughts couldn't be stopped, and they couldn't be handled with the ease of dealing with anything in the company.


He thought, losing rationality, caring recklessly, all the uncontrollable and uneasy emotions came from her.


From this feeling.


No one could imagine that the tycoon, the noble heir with financial power in the capital, would be in a vulnerable position in matters of the heart.


Jiang Chenchen felt that the question was a bit strange. "Sheng Mingsi, what about you? You're my favorite person in the world."


Sheng Mingsi's uneasy emotions immediately dissipated with this sentence. He smiled like a child who had just received candy, even feeling inexplicably pleased with himself.


"Chenchen, I feel the same."


Ending the call, he turned to the window, took out a cigarette, and sighed heavily the moment it was lit. In the swirling smoke, he picked up the files and experimental data on the table, his eyes becoming even deeper.


And more determined.


...


Jiang Chenchen continued to stay by Zhan Chen's bedside, caring for him like a qualified nurse.


He woke up only when it was dark.


Jiang Chenchen asked, "Feeling better?"


Zhan Chen's weak eyes looked over, and there was a moment of confusion. He reached out to touch her cheek.


"If it's like the dream, that would be great."


His voice was dry and hoarse, his breath unsteady.


Jiang Chenchen grabbed his wrist and looked down. "Dream?"


Zhan Chen's moon-like eyes stared at her intently, a gentle smile appearing on his lips. "An extravagant hope that can never be realized."


After saying this, he looked down, trying to sit up, and asked her, "What time is it? Has Sheng Mingsi arrived?"


"Almost."


Jiang Chenchen helped him sit up. "Do you want some water?"


"No need. I need to get up."


"But you..."


"It's okay, I won't die for now."


Zhan Chen got off the bed, changed into formal attire with the help of Ning Yi, and sat in a wheelchair. Together, they went downstairs to the restaurant to wait for Sheng Mingsi. The most lavish dinner was prepared here, perhaps for him, as Chenchen's family, the last meal he hosted.


Sheng Mingsi arrived early.


Jiang Chenchen went forward to greet him, and their eyes met. "Ah Si."


"I'm here."


Sheng Mingsi's pitch-black gaze passed over her face and fell on Zhan Chen sitting in the wheelchair.


His physical condition looked terrible, and his mental state was poor, but he was visibly holding on.


As someone in charge of the entire underground force in Country A, even if he looked frail, his imposing presence was not to be underestimated.


Zhan Chen's gaze had been on him since he appeared, inviting him to sit. Despite his unstable condition, he carried himself calmly like the wind. "I suddenly admire you. You came alone. Aren't you afraid of entering here and not being able to leave?"


Sheng Mingsi placed his briefcase to the side of the chair, gazing at him with a cold and indifferent expression. "No, this is my place in the capital."


"I don't like the way you talk, but maybe you're right."


Zhan Chen, unperturbed, laughed lightly, but the laughter was interrupted by a cough.


Ning Yi quickly expressed concern, asking if he needed to go upstairs immediately, but Zhan Chen sternly reprimanded him.


"Shut up. This is an important dinner. We'll talk later after it's over."


"Mr. Sheng, please have a seat."


Sheng Mingsi sat down, and Jiang Chenchen sat beside him.


Although they had important matters to discuss, the dinner table was not the place for these discussions. It was a quiet meal, as if it were an ordinary dinner.


"How's the food? Does it suit your taste?"


"Not bad."


"Delicious."


Zhan Chen raised the corners of his mouth. "It's a pity there's no wine on this table. I thought we needed to discuss some important matters tonight, so I didn't prepare any. Please forgive me."


"It's okay. We don't need wine," Jiang Chenchen said. "When can I meet the young man named Chi Yan?"


Zhan Chen, who hadn't eaten much, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, stood up, and said, "Releasing him would be dangerous. It's better to keep him locked up. After you leave tonight, I will send him to your place. Now, please follow me."


Jiang Chenchen and Sheng Mingsi followed him to the study. It was a very classical room where Zhan Chen handed some documents to Sheng Mingsi and explained the things he had discovered.


"Originally, I could investigate this matter alone, but I found that it might involve the upper echelons. Recently, my movements have been closely monitored, so it's not convenient for me to act."


"If your people investigate, I will arrange cover and ensure a quiet investigation."


In fact, he didn't explain in so much detail, and Sheng Mingsi also roughly guessed the issue with the situation. Someone who climbed from the bottom to the top could fall from the top at any time, especially in such a frail condition. More people were watching.


So, being in such a precarious position made it inconvenient for him to act.


Therefore, cooperation was needed.


The ultimate goal of all this was to find out why Jiang Chenchen was being studied, what secrets were hidden in the taken data, and what else was being concealed.


Once it involved Jiang Chenchen, Sheng Mingsi would definitely take action.


In this regard, the two of them reached a common goal.


There was no concealment from Jiang Chenchen.


However, when it came to discussing blood, they excluded Jiang Chenchen.


"Why? Can't I listen?"


"Chenchen, this is a topic between men. Wait for me in the living room, and we'll go home in a while."