Chapter 98: A Small World in the Tree
As midnight approached, in a high-end villa community in Q District, Zhōng Jiā, Zhōng Hǎi accompanied a middle-aged man out of the house, his smile somewhat stiff.
“Comrade Zhōng Hǎi, the cooperation between Zhōng Pharmaceutical and Jiǎn Yuè Pharmaceutical is significant for the domestication of new drugs and for alleviating the difficulties patients face with medication in our country. The state supports this as long as it is a legal and compliant business collaboration; the higher-ups will not interfere.”
“As for the people behind the Hejian consortium… you can rest assured. If they have any malicious intent beyond seeking profit, they won’t be able to bear the repercussions from the state. The Hejian consortium has investments in more sectors than just yours, so they can’t hide too deep. Although Japan may appear tough, it cannot escape our substantial geopolitical influence. Families wishing to engage in development cooperations are welcome, but if they overstep, we can play it through to the end.”
The remarks from Han Guoping, vice president of Huayao Group, eased Zhōng Hǎi’s tension a little.
“By the way, regarding my reply earlier in the study, I hope Comrade Zhōng Hǎi can convey it accurately.”
Just as he was about to get into the car, Han Guoping stopped, his expression particularly serious: “As long as the Wang family can handle the issues with the south and the Blood Clan well, the higher-ups can consider increasing scrutiny on certain non-compliant funds in the financial market, alleviating their pressure. This condition shouldn’t be seen as stingy, right?”
“Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely pass on the leader’s words!”
Zhōng Hǎi nodded eagerly, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Watching the car drive away, Zhōng Hǎi let out a sigh of relief, returned to the living room with his hands behind his back, and saw his wife coming towards him with a coat in hand.
“Dear, why did you talk for so long tonight?”
“Ha ha, the busier I am, the more that shows the family business is flourishing.”
Zhōng Hǎi laughed as he put on the coat and wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist. “In the future, I may be even busier. You should go to bed; I have some matters to attend to in the study.”
“By the way, why did Qíng Yá suddenly return to Japan? Does the Hejian family regret it?”
Zhōng Māmā looked with some regret towards the direction of the second floor, her voice a bit tense: “In the past few months, Qíng Yá has stayed at our place every weekend, and Jǐng Ér has come home more often. I see that Jǐng Ér gets along fairly well with her, but please, let there be no mishaps.”
“Which family doesn’t have its issues? I heard that the old gentleman from Hejian has been unwell and hospitalized recently, so his granddaughter naturally had to go back. Don’t overthink it.”
“Oh, that explains it… By the way, dear, I heard that the Hejian family holds half of Jiǎn Yuè Pharmaceutical’s shares, and Qíng Yá is the only heir of the Hejian family; doesn’t that mean Jiǎn Yuè Pharmaceutical is her dowry?”
Zhōng Māmā clutched her husband’s arm, the more she thought about it, the more she felt the Zhōng family would soon become a world-class wealthy family, with a bright future for her son.
“Dowry, what dowry?”
On the second floor, Zhōng Jǐng came down in sportswear, carrying a bag and looking suspiciously at his parents.
“It’s so late, are you planning to go out dressed like that?” Zhōng Māmā quickly released her husband’s arm and approached her son, her eyes still fixed on the bag in his hand. “What do you have there?”
“Fitness equipment, new running shoes, a water bottle,” Zhōng Jǐng switched the bag to his other hand, his face all smiles. “I want to go out for a stroll, get some exercise, and maybe grab a late-night snack.”
Seeing his son once again fooling his mother, Zhōng Hǎi could only shake his head and walk alone towards the study.
…
After shutting the door, Zhōng Hǎi pulled out an old photograph from a hidden corner.
A black-and-white photo from decades ago, unembellished by modern technology, rough yet pure.
The woman in the dress in the photo was tall, beautiful, gentle, and elegant, leaning against a young man from that era who was dressed stylishly.
Even now, Zhōng Hǎi could not see even a hint of Japanese temperament in Méng Xiāng from the photo.
This was not just the self-cultivation and disguise of a corporate spy; it was as if Méng Xiāng had long prepared to use herself as a springboard to choose to reside in Huaguo, escaping from family confinement.
Their eldest son, Méng Huái, was not so much a product of their romantic affinity but rather an accident. Or rather, it was a reward taken by Méng Xiāng while fulfilling her family mission; it was a private possession of her life.
If it weren’t for that terrible piece of news, perhaps throughout his life, he would have never had the chance to reunite with Méng Huái, and Méng Huái would not know who his father was.
Lost in memories, Zhōng Hǎi suddenly developed a more peculiar guess: if Méng Xiāng hadn’t left him at that time, then Méng Huái might be the current Zhōng Jǐng, and the Zhōng family might have taken a completely different and far more dangerous path, rather than the current balanced and enjoyable existence straddling two worlds.
Méng Xiāng’s selfish departure could be said to have spared the Zhōng family the greatest disaster; in this regard, hadn’t Méng Xiāng also left behind the final gift of fate?
Looking at the old photo, Zhōng Hǎi gradually fell into a blurry state of thought.
…
…
After wandering around the community for two circles, Zhōng Jǐng headed straight for the small square by the fountain opposite his family’s villa and stood under a massive old tree in the green area.
“Look at those Japanese, how dedicated they are, usually lying on my roof, and you’ve gone up a tree.”
Zhōng Jǐng turned on the flashlight on his phone and looked up; sure enough, he saw Jiāng Yáo playing a game on her phone at the fork of a robust trunk.
“Hey, did you bring anything to eat?”
Jiāng Yáo pressed down on the skirt in front of her and lightly jumped down from the tree; although her skirt was inevitably lifted in midair, it was night, and with the large tree behind her, it wasn’t too bad.
She pulled away several dried leaves from her shoulder, gleefully took the bag from Zhōng Jǐng’s hand, then turned and crouched down to gather momentum for another jump.
“Are you planning to make me climb up by myself?”
Zhōng Jǐng frowned and pressed down on the girl’s shoulder.
“Ah? I’m on night watch, you go home and sleep,” Jiāng Yáo turned back, looking at the uncomfortable expression on Zhōng Jǐng’s face, slightly puzzled, “What’s your problem? Do you want me to invite you into the house, or rather to the tree to sit?”
“I just… no, my master asked you to protect me for a few days, and as soon as you arrived, the first thing you did was send me a message. I still had to go out after midnight to bring you food and drinks. Do you think my phone is for ordering takeout? Are you out here camping?”
Zhōng Jǐng was infuriated just thinking about the bizarre excuses he had to come up with after receiving a social chat message not long ago.
“Then… how about going up to sit and drink a bit? Ugh, it feels like something’s off, strange.”
Jiāng Yáo pointed at the tree, and before Zhōng Jǐng could respond, she grabbed his arm with one hand and, with a resonating and heart-wrenching scream, lifted him directly to the tree fork.
As expected of a carefully selected old tree, the junction of the trunk was even wider and more comfortable than imagined, and several branches as thick as thighs extended just right to create more movable space, ensuring that even a bed set up there wouldn’t easily fall.
“You already have a Japanese wife; I won’t crouch on your roof. She’s a blood baroness; if she sleeps in your bed and starts a blood riot, who would dare touch you?”
Jiāng Yáo pulled out a food box from her bag, lifting the lid revealed the familiar aroma of braised meat, and she immediately breathed it in with delight, murmuring: “So, I don’t understand why Jiān Jiě suddenly wants me to protect you.”
“Ha ha, has Qíng Yá returned to Japan? Otherwise, would you still need to come?”
Zhōng Jǐng sighed lightly, his expression a bit strange, “Actually, this was Qíng Yá’s request; she fears that some people might pose a threat to me or my dad, framing the Hejian consortium and intentionally creating conflict between Huaguo and the Fujihara family in Japan…”
“Oh, your wife thinks meticulously…”
“She’s not my wife!”
“Oh, fine, that old witch seems to have taken an interest in you.”
Jiāng Yáo hung the bag on a branch and then rummaged out a few drinks and snacks, looking very happy: “Forget it, I won’t tease you anymore. When I was a child, I loved climbing that big tree in the yard; on top, I could sleep, eat snacks, and play house.”
“Ha ha, I was the same way, whenever I returned to my grandpa’s house in the countryside, there was always one just like that.”
Zhōng Jǐng propped himself on a side branch, drinking from a can of beer; he seemed to be reminiscing about similar childhood joys, but then he suddenly showed a strange expression and said with hindsight, “Ugh, I realize what feels off… When I used to send girls home, occasionally they’d invite me upstairs for coffee or beer…”
“Ha ha, I can only invite you up the tree, right?”
Jiāng Yáo almost laughed out loud, and in a moment of distraction, her body lost its balance and slid to one side. The hem of her skirt got caught on a small branch, flipping up to her thighs, instantly losing modesty.
Zhōng Jǐng reacted quickly, leaning forward suddenly and grabbing Jiāng Yáo’s waist, pulling her closely against him.
…
Jiāng Yáo’s body slightly trembled, her beer can mysteriously lost, one hand gripping Zhōng Jǐng’s shirt at his chest, while the other desperately clutched the caught skirt.
“You can let go of my hand now.”
In a hurry to fix her skirt, Jiāng Yáo felt her ears heat up, quickly moving her hand from his chest, turning her head away awkwardly.
Zhōng Jǐng seemed not to have heard the girl speaking; rather, he naturally continued to hold her waist with his left hand while pulling out a cigarette from his pocket with his right. He opened the cigarette case with one hand, put one in his mouth, and began to—
Zhōng Jǐng…
Hmm?
Do you… really like me?
Jiāng Yáo pressed one hand against her skirt and grabbed a nearby branch with the other, slightly shifting away from Zhōng Jǐng’s touch, her expression unclear in the dim night.
I don’t like you; why would I? How many times have you asked me?
Zhōng Jǐng exhaled a smoke ring, replying casually.
A heavy elbow strike hit Zhōng Jǐng’s chest directly.
In that instant, Zhōng Jǐng felt as if his ribcage had been pierced. If it weren’t for the trunk behind him, he might have been sent crashing down by Jiāng Yáo’s powerful strike.
Ugh… If I say I like you, you’ll definitely blow up… If I say I don’t like you, then… ugh, are you planning to send me away on your first night protecting me?
Leaning against the trunk, clutching his chest, Zhōng Jǐng gasped, his face pale and grimacing in pain, struggling to speak.
Why did you look under my skirt earlier!?
Jiāng Yáo’s face flushed red, unable to find a reason to explain her emotional fluctuation.
Hearing that Zhōng Jǐng’s voice was off, seemingly hurt, she quickly felt over his chest with her hand, searching for a few moments before retracting it: fortunately, the bone isn’t broken.
In this darkness, what can I see? Zhōng Jǐng thought with a mix of bemusement.
Their bodies, seemingly close yet separated by mere millimeters, were perfectly divided by this slight interruption, plunging the small world in the tree into several minutes of silence.
Now, it was already November 11, the traditional Lunar New Year’s Eve. The clouds, no one knew when they had dispersed, revealed a strangely round moon.
Silver light penetrated through the branches and leaves of the tree, spying on everything in the small world, and sprinkle down softly on the young man and the young woman.
My sister has been acting very strange these days, speaking even less. Others might not notice, but I know it has to do with your brother… Did he really die?
Jiāng Yáo sighed, breaking the silence, leaning back against a side branch, her eyes fixed on the dense tree canopy above, her voice soft and faint.
From what I hear in the capital, for secrecy reasons, we aren’t allowed to visit her, so we can only wait passively for news. According to the current attitude hinting from their leadership, it seems genuinely hopeless…
With this change in topic from Jiāng Yáo, Zhōng Jǐng’s expression darkened, even the pain in his chest momentarily dulled.
I speculate my sister might like your brother; sigh… still a dying person? It’s bizarre; I can’t understand her…
Jiāng Yáo secretly glanced at Zhōng Jǐng, the moonlight gently illuminating his expression that shone with melancholy.
Hmm, I can attest that she should have fallen for my brother. He definitely likes her too. They’re both such quirky people…
Zhōng Jǐng thought for a moment, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep draw, a self-mocking look on his face.
What kind of strange code is in their genes, with both generations bent on self-destruction?
Proof of love? What proof!?
Jiāng Yáo was about to join in with sarcasm when she suddenly caught onto a phrase that startled her, quickly straightening her back.
Zhōng Jǐng shrugged, a look of helplessness on his face: “The day it rained was the last night my brother fell into a coma. Jiāng Yán came to the hospital in the middle of the night… I saw her on the balcony, hugging my brother for at least ten minutes without moving; that dog food scene is rather funny.”
What? You were eavesdropping? You didn’t record it? Jiāng Yáo quickly moved in front of Zhōng Jǐng, grabbing his arm, “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe my sister would act like that… I don’t believe it!”
Believe it or not.
The unique scent of the girl up close entered Zhōng Jǐng’s nostrils. The young man suddenly froze, then couldn’t help but lean forward slightly as he breathed in her scent.
Try getting closer…
Still picking up the smell of the smoke and her faint warmth, Jiāng Yáo’s body tightened, her face flushed bright red, keeping her head bowed, murmuring words she could barely hear herself.
He must have liked me a long time ago, always pretending… It’s true; with my figure and looks, I can be considered top-tier in the hyacinth community, right?
However, he has never said anything flowery to me, nor did he ever make any inappropriate advances, but why does everyone say he’s a scumbag?
Feeling the proximity of the young man’s breath, Jiāng Yáo trembled even more, her mind a jumble of various thoughts—some shameful, some disgusting, some thrilling, some repulsive, and some hopeful…
Getting even closer, she was now approaching Jiāng Yáo’s gently trembling forehead, Zhōng Jǐng’s mouth curled into a slight smile before he retreated.
Did you spray perfume? Zhōng Jǐng rubbed his nose, a puzzled expression crossing his face, “I’ve never smelled this scent before.”
I haven’t used any… Wait, you just smelled my scent!?
Jiāng Yáo looked up, her body instantly tensing, her lips slightly parted, her expression a mix of shame, anger, disgust, and a rapid heartbeat of intense feelings, alongside a touch of slight disappointment.
Hmm, I don’t think it’s perfume… Actually, I’ve noticed for a long time that both you and Jiāng Yán have a certain body fragrance, but today it’s particularly strong.
Zhōng Jǐng furrowed his brows, stroking his chin, looking thoughtful, trying to maintain his composure.
That’s disgusting!
With one kick, Jiāng Yáo’s action caused Zhōng Jǐng to lose his balance, falling down from the tree.
Oh man… that’s over three meters high! Can you really fall down like that?
Hurry back! I’m going to sleep!
Sleep? Aren’t you on night watch? Should I wake you in the morning, or do you want breakfast too?
Get lost!
Zhōng Jǐng rubbed his waist, brushing off leaves and dirt, slowly getting back up.
Though he couldn’t see the girl’s expression in the tree, nor discern the truth of her emotions, the young man’s lips revealed a mysterious, triumphant smile.
