Chapter 169: An Unquiet World
February 15, Saturday.
Since the contact with Meng Huai six months ago, Han Jie Li has been very interested in Meng Huai’s personal life in order to understand and master his physical and mental health, especially since Meng Huai was once a prospective groom for the Han family.
The foundation of the Zhong family is clear to Han Jie Li, but what really piques his interest are the external relationships of the brothers Meng Huai and Zhong Jing.
Today marks exactly two months since Meng Huai “disappeared,” and all of his personal information as an ordinary person will be officially canceled today.
In the morning, Han Jie Li and Han Xiao, representing their unit, walked through the gates of the Zhong family’s villa. They were to deliver the news of Meng Huai’s sacrifice to the Zhong family following the internal customs of Zhao Jian.
Unlike before, there were no reporters or media present this time; there was no need for publicity or packaging of the martyr’s heroic deeds; everything proceeded as discreetly as possible.
It seems Zhong Hai had already prepared himself. Upon seeing the two soldiers, a man and a woman, he merely twitched slightly before calmly inviting them to take a seat.
“Mr. Zhong, we regret to inform you of some unfortunate news. The remains of Comrade Meng Huai have been found…”
Due to the long period of his disappearance, the condition of the martyr’s remains was poor; therefore… sigh, according to regulations, after completing DNA matching for identification, Comrade Meng Huai’s remains have been cremated.
As for the burial site, we will prioritize respecting your wishes, or the unit can arrange for him to enter the East Suburb Martyrs Cemetery; all burial expenses will be covered by the unit.
Han Jie Li tried to use as gentle a tone as possible while placing the notification document, martyr’s honor certificate, and compensation documents on the coffee table one by one.
“This child has wanted to be a soldier since he was old enough to understand. Now that he has met his fate, let him rest with his comrades. It would be best to choose a quieter place; he was introverted and liked peace since he was young…”
“The martyr’s compensation, I will represent him and donate it all to the city’s Red Cross. He received some benefits in the past…”
As Zhong Hai quietly looked at the pile of documents in front of him, blood vessels slowly emerged in his eyes. His tone was low and calm, while beside him, Zhong Ma tightened her grip on his arm.
After exchanging a glance with Han Xiao, Han Jie Li felt relieved and took out a printed document from his pocket: “This is a list of personal items left by Comrade Meng Huai at the unit. Please take a look, and then we will send someone to transfer all of the martyr’s belongings to you.”
“The memorial service will be held at the end of this month in the logistics courtyard auditorium. Due to Comrade Meng Huai’s special identity, the scale of the service and the number of attendees will be limited.”
The subsequent exchanges were heavy and monotonous. Zhong Hai nodded occasionally but did not speak further.
Han Jie Li seemed to see a peculiar sense of relief in Zhong Hai’s eyes. Surprisingly, the second young master of the Zhong family, who was rumored not to be able to be with Meng Huai, didn’t show up, which caught Han Jie Li off guard.
Throughout the process, Han Xiao also remained silent, only glancing at everything in the Zhong family with her peripheral vision.
In Zhong Jing’s study.
Zhong Jing hadn’t turned on the computer; instead, he sat on the sofa with He Jian Qing Ya, staring intently at the tabletop.
This was something he had retrieved earlier that day from Su Xiao Meng, something purportedly offered as sincerity from the last secret meeting with the Engel family. It had taken a whole week for verification before it returned to Zhong Jing’s hands.
“Are they still discussing?” Zhong Jing withdrew his gaze from the medicine bottle, leaned back against the sofa, and smiled at the ceiling.
“Yes, uncle and aunt are with him. It’s regarding brother’s funeral; aren’t you going down, Jing-kun?”
He Jian Qing Ya obediently sat beside Zhong Jing, reached out for the medicine bottle, and examined it under the light.
“Ha ha, I’m afraid I might laugh out loud… Qing Ya, I don’t mind telling you that whenever a process involves disappearance, investigation, searching, and notifying about a death, it usually implies blood has been shed.
“If nothing fishy was going on, family members would typically be allowed to see the body for a final farewell instead of it being directly cremated without proof.”
Zhong Jing wore a sardonic smile, shaking his head slightly: “My brother, with the fate he obtained from Fujihara Yaki, may well be destined to be separate from the world of ordinary people; he has simply returned to where he belongs…”
“It’s strange; I don’t feel any sadness… I’ve been wondering, if he were still alive, when would I see him again? And at that time, would we still be brothers?”
After saying this, Zhong Jing recalled two familiar figures he had seen on the street past ten last night.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became oppressive, and the two fell into silent reflection.
A few minutes later, voices of Zhong Jing’s parents politely sending off guests could be heard from downstairs.
He Jian Qing Ya gently touched Zhong Jing’s arm and leaned her head against him, then pressed the medicine bottle to his chest: “Jing-kun, if this medicine proves to have no toxic side effects, do you still want to take it?”
“This is a game; who would play all their cards in the first round? Letting them see through me at once would be boring; I’ll wait a bit more…”
Zhong Jing took the medicine bottle, opened it, and sniffed it, looking relaxed. Tsk tsk, the Engel family excels in intrigue aside from their shady dealings; it’s just a bit foul-smelling. I wonder what part of the blood clan they’ve used this time…
“Jing-kun, the body of the blood clan is an inexhaustible treasure for ordinary people and also a bond that some prominent figures use to maintain close ties with the blood clan.”
He Jian Qing Ya fell silent for a few seconds, sighed, stood up, and her expression grew serious: “They merely want to approach Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao through you or continue to muddy the waters.”
“Jing-kun, you’re right; I need to cut off the burden and stigma tied to me by the Fujihara family. I want to see Lord Wan Yue again regarding the secrets of Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao.”
Zhong Jing slightly lowered his head, as if pondering. A few seconds later, he lowered his voice: “Has your attachment to the family just disappeared like that? No longer wishing to exchange it for a betrothal gift with me?”
He Jian Qing Ya’s eyes reddened slightly, mingled with a touch of resentment: “Jing-kun, after I lose something forever, the remaining value of my life, in their eyes, is merely to support them. Therefore, the Fujihara family is no longer my support.”
“I am now Jing-kun’s fiancée, not a tool of the Fujihara family.”
As she spoke, He Jian Qing Ya threw herself onto Zhong Jing, holding him tightly, filled with tenderness: “Jing-kun, when our child is born, if he’s of the blood clan, we’ll ask the Wang family for protection. If he’s an ordinary person, we’ll completely sever ties with the Fujihara family.”
“What have you lost?” Zhong Jing was taken aback, his brows knitting tighter as he held He Jian Qing Ya by her shoulders, “Is every person from the Fujihara family as realistic as you?”
“Ha ha, even if there’s still a hint of warmth among relatives, my relationship with the Fujihara family wouldn’t solely be cold exchanges. Those old men are no different…”
“I want to be Jing-kun’s wife and live a true ordinary life; they do not deserve my affection and dedication.”
After murmuring this, He Jian Qing Ya embraced Zhong Jing once more, her face slightly flushed: “Jing-kun, let’s go on a date again today.”
“Did you forget something? Today is the anniversary of my brother’s death… Let’s go comfort my parents.”
Zhong Jing sighed, shaking his head as he toyed with the strands of the girl’s hair in front of him, a smirk of playful teasing growing on his lips.
…
He Jian Qing Ya was taken aback, quickly composed herself, restoring her demure demeanor, but there was a tinge of unwillingness in her eyes.
…
On the city avenue, an off-road vehicle with military plates was moving steadily.
“You see, in a wealthy family like the Zhong family, there’s someone like Meng Huai… If it weren’t for his blood type, he could have been a refined second-generation rich kid.”
After leaving Meng Huai’s home and sitting in the return car, Han Xiao suddenly muttered.
“Ha ha, Meng Ge and his father Zhong Hai are completely different kinds of people; you can tell from their names.”
Driving, Han Jie Li kept his gaze straight ahead but a faint smile appeared on his lips: “Meng Ge is Zhong Hai’s illegitimate child before marriage. After returning to the Zhong family, he lived in solitude among Zhong Hai’s legitimate wife and children. Perhaps aside from his genes, his growth is actually not closely related to Zhong Hai and the Zhong family.”
“If we’re talking about wealth, if the Han family weren’t doing what we’re doing now, I’d also be a rich young man, freely indulging like the second young master of the Zhong family, Zhong Jing.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao frowned, shooting an angry glare at Han Jie Li:
“Stop talking nonsense! Can the Han family be compared to them? We have hundreds of years of ancestral teachings and cannot share the same fate as the blood clan!”
“Cannot share the same fate? If you ask me, even if Meng Ge weren’t of a rare blood type, he would still end up in the shadows. Many people are drawn by a certain fate, walking towards a wide path or a road of no return. Reconciling with fate is often harder than fighting against it…”
Sighing softly, Han Jie Li tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
After hearing Han Jie Li’s explanation, Han Xiao bit her lip, and after several seconds of pensive silence, she said softly: “Xiao Xiao, I know Meng Huai’s secrets are never just these. Dad has also hinted at it… If one day it is uncovered, can you tell me?”
Han Jie Li was taken aback, unable to help but glance at Han Xiao: “Third sister, it’s better if you don’t know. You still need to continue living; he is already a thing of the past.”
“Besides, do you think Meng Ge is the kind of person who wants others to remember him? He was closed off while alive; he shut off all emotional connections with others.
Do you know what the male soldiers in our country like to say? Before undertaking a life-or-death mission, the first thing to tell family is to let the wife remarry afterward; if he dies, he dies; there’s no need to regret.
“Han Jie Li, you bastard!”
Han Xiao’s eyes suddenly turned red, and she directly hit Han Jie Li’s arm, looking pitiful: “My brother left me this phrase before going abroad, and what happened? Sister Xiaoyu now swears she won’t remarry!”
“And there are also second cousin, big cousin, second cousin-in-law… you all do this!”
“You men can easily throw around such heroic statements, sounding grand and noble, right? Isn’t it just pressuring us women into a corner?”
Han Jie Li shrank back his neck, awkwardly swallowing, unsure whether to retort.
A minute later, Han Xiao’s anger began to subside slowly. She looked down at her briefcase and quietly asked: “Besides the Zhong family, do we need to notify anyone else about Meng Huai’s sacrifice, like the leaders at the training center?”
Meng Ge was in a relationship with a girl last year, and during the time he was given a critical illness notice, that girl was also by his bedside, indicating their deep feelings… Um, third sister, you should remember that person too. I was thinking whether to let her know as well.
The car arrived at the logistics courtyard parking lot, and Han Jie Li released the steering wheel, contemplating seriously.
Let’s not use this news to hurt another girl again, please!
Han Xiao’s anger, which had finally subsided, flared up again. This time she directly grabbed her briefcase and hit Han Jie Li’s body, “You just told me not to think about these things, but now you’re planning to drag other girls into it. Your heart can’t be excused!”
Han Jie Li laughed as he fended off his cousin’s blows, but confusion lingered in his eyes—how could Meng Huai, who had chosen the girl he relied upon amid life and death, suddenly become so indifferent, disappearing without a trace, and not even inquiring?
He knew clearly what kind of family the Zhong family was. Even if Meng Huai had no feelings for this family, outside of that girl He Jian Qing Ya, he truly had no other bizarre existence around him?
Furthermore, Han Jie Li still had an unresolved question weighing on his mind.
In the Wan Qiaoli attack incident, Meng Huai was with a girl named Jiang Yan.
With a rare blood type, the comatose Meng Huai, surprisingly suffered no harm under the watchful eyes of the savage black clan and even managed to call for help to Tao Qiao Er without even being aware of it.
Explaining Meng Huai’s clear mind and memory issues with a deteriorating physical condition is merely a logical plausibility, but it is entirely insufficient.
Not only that, but the girl named Jiang Yan happened to be the only person who saved the so-called mysterious figure in the entire Wan Qiaoli commercial square. Still, almost all follow-up reviews mysteriously overlooked her.
Perhaps many people see the bond between Meng Huai and that girl as a natural, unquestionable trust.
However, Han Jie Li always felt something was off because the torn clothing and blood samples belonging to Jiang Yan had bizarrely disappeared due to chaotic onsite handling and inadequate preservation.
This was precisely stated by Zhen Guangquan.
What are you relying on? Are you still waiting for my mom to come down to invite you to dinner this afternoon?
Seeing his cousin lost in odd thought, Han Xiao regained her composure but was still lobbing sarcasm.
“Cousin, Meng Ge has been at odds with the blood clan throughout his life, even after his sacrifice…”
Han Jie Li muttered his thoughts wistfully, forcing a bitter smile as he opened the car door.
Suddenly, Han Jie Li’s phone rang urgently.
“Hello, it’s me, Director Li!”
Han Jie Li’s expression instantly became serious, and his body involuntarily straightened, “Understood! I will contact other colleagues immediately to take over the scene!”
“What’s wrong?!” Seeing Han Jie Li hang up and instinctively hurrying back into the car, Han Xiao quickly grasped him, “So urgent that you won’t even eat lunch?”
“Cousin, last night, there were homicides at Jiu Tian Commercial Square in Zone G and Dongfeng Community in East Suburb of Zone C. The intelligence department just received a notification, classified as unknown blood clan conflict, and many ordinary people were reportedly injured. The director asked me to take over the scene immediately!”
Han Jie Li’s expression was grave. After exchanging two or three concise sentences, he fastened his seatbelt and closed the car door.
“This world truly cannot be at peace…”
Watching his cousin’s car speed away, Han Xiao sighed and held her briefcase tighter.
The past twenty-four hours could be considered one of the most golden operating days for the Jinhe Club within the year.
Although guests enjoy many free services after paying their membership fees, some premium consumption items were also particularly popular that day—like a live romantic proposal ceremony.
However, these glitzy business achievements did not prevent the Jinhe Club from choosing to close its doors on the day after Valentine’s Day.
Since its establishment over twenty-one years ago, never had there been a day like this that left everyone in the club trembling with fear.
Most people could only stay in the lobby on the first floor, nervously and anxiously watching a certain direction on the second floor, Meng Huai being among them.
In Meng Huai’s perception, the entire Jinhe Club was saturated with emotions such as confusion, fear, anxiety, and sorrow; even most knights were no exception, their bodies and minds overrun with negative energy, making it difficult to breathe.
In a private room on the second floor, the door was tightly shut. Despite using the best soundproof materials, knights and higher blood clans could still hear certain intense, enraged, and even frenzied arguments.
“Li… Brother Li, tea…”
Xiao Mei, as a good newcomer, was the most emotionally stable person present, serving cups of calming tea to everyone, including Meng Huai.
“Thank you… By the way, is today the day for the collective meeting? Is everyone present?”
Silently counting the heads in his line of sight, Meng Huai lifted his teacup and took a sip, casually inquiring.
Xiao Mei was taken aback, straightened her body, looked around, then slowly shook her head: “Not everyone is here; Brother Huang and the others are still in D City, while Brother Zheng and Sister Xiao Ling are watching the Fengxinzi Villa.”
Meng Huai nodded and continued to drink his tea, his expression gradually slipping into a peculiar state of contemplation that remained hidden from those around him.
