Chapter 275: Desperate Love (Part One)
Elvin was very busy. Since leaving the Eden Base a few days ago, he had been traveling across multiple countries in Europe. Besides attending gatherings of several prominent families, he secretly met with numerous political figures or business tycoons from various European countries.
In order to conceal the upcoming secret activities as much as possible, the Engel family launched a publicity campaign in both the human world and the world of the blood clan to attract and consolidate common interests.
To this end, the Engel family not only invested substantial behind-the-scenes funding to guide media opinion but also had the usually aloof Elvin personally step in to deliver much-anticipated good news to specific groups.
Within the European blood clan, Elvin announced breakthroughs in the Holy Grail project and clarified rumors about the poor health of his great-grandfather, stating that he had merely entered a state of dormancy.
Externally, the EVN Group, which was under the control of the Engel family, announced the imminent clinical trials of several new anti-tumor drugs. This news caused the stock of EVN Group to skyrocket in just a few days, triggering a wave of investment enthusiasm in the biopharmaceutical sector.
Soon, inside a secretive circle that most ordinary people in Europe could not access, news emerged of significant progress in the “Eternal Life” and “Sweet Dream” projects.
Naturally, the European Investors Alliance was extremely satisfied with the “results” of the Engel family, leading to a continuous stream of additional investment commitments.
Such a lively topic temporarily overshadowed the escalating trade disputes between North America and the Huaguo, which were on the verge of boiling over.
The intensive schedule continued until June 21. When Elvin returned to his residence in Emden, Germany, Emma, who had returned temporarily from Vietnam, had been waiting for a sleepless night.
“Miss Emma, you don’t seem to be in a good mood. Is Luca’s injury irreparable? Oh, please get me a cup of coffee, thank you.”
As Elvin walked into the office that morning, he noticed Emma’s rather unusual expression. Perhaps the recent events had gone smoothly, making him feel more relaxed.
“He’s hurt his foundation, but at least Qian Guijun’s treatment has saved Mr. Luca’s life. He can only be transferred to Eden once he is completely out of danger.”
Emma quickly prepared coffee for Elvin while grappling with the words she had organized in her mind over the past half-night.
“Miss Emma, if it’s just this issue, there’s no need for you to rush back personally. Go ahead and speak; is it related to Qian Guijun? That old dog, who is now our only remaining resource in Huaguo.”
Elvin held his coffee and smiled at the so-called cooperation agreement signed privately between Emma and Qian Guijun, unsurprised by Qian Guijun’s exorbitant demands.
Emma bit her lip and lowered her head slightly, “It’s not just about Guijun; there are actually two pieces of news.”
“If I’m not mistaken, one is good and the other is bad…” Elvin’s smile gradually faded as he set down his coffee cup and crossed his legs, “Let’s start with the good news.”
Emma nodded, “Qian Guijun has found a black blood clan member who escaped from an ambush, proving that Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao have achieved stable and controllable multi-lineage abilities, and their realm stability far exceeds that of the previous queen.”
At these words, Elvin’s eyes lit up, and he swiftly straightened his body, “Give me more details!”
“Jiang Yao can use the night body of Baron Altai, the Thousand Hands of the Count, and the regeneration ability of the Ganges Count; Jiang Yan can use the Blood Explosion of the Siberian Baron, the Blood Blade of the Rhine Count, and the puppet abilities of the Apennine Count. I don’t know if the two of them have mastered more abilities.”
“Unfortunately, we can no longer obtain their bloodline samples, so we cannot test the purity of the bloodline or whether there has been a qualitative change in the blood energy proteins…”
Emma expressed some regret at this point.
Elvin became excited, standing up from the sofa and waving his strong hands, “No, it’s not necessary; only the royal family of Sofia can master the abilities of more than two counts! This indicates that the current round of grandmother bloodline purification has exceeded our expectations!”
“They are the perfect queens, the new royal family of the Sofia lineage, the bloodline of the gods!”
Elvin paced back and forth in the office, his face beaming with excitement. However, Emma held her head even lower.
After a few laps, Elvin seemed to suddenly recall something and returned to his desk, staring intently at his subordinate, “Alright, I shouldn’t be overly optimistic. Now, let’s move on to the bad news.”
Emma lifted her head, took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly: “Jiang Yan has developed symptoms of unstable mutations, associated with the genetic defects of the queen’s instability. She may die before she enters the fourth stage. According to the data, Jiang Yan should be that flawed queen bloodline.”
Elvin frowned, put down his coffee, and lightly tapped the table with his fingers, “Hmm, yes. An underdeveloped bloodline returning to its ancestor carries uncontrollable risks and may also affect the stability of genetic inheritance. Such a pity… and what about Jiang Yao?”
Elvin froze, his pupils slowly constricting. A few seconds later, his somewhat stiff body slowly stood upright.
“Bang!”
A cup half-full of steaming coffee soared through the air, smashing hard against Emma, staining her elegant professional dress with large splotches of black liquid, but she dared not move an inch.
How dare this despicable scoundrel use his filthy organs to desecrate the noble Sofia royal family! Who gave him the courage!
These filthy, wicked people—did they even know what they were doing? They were tarnishing the bloodline of the divine in the world of the clan!
Only the Engel family, only I have the right to unite with the Sofia royal family and bear the offspring of gods, not that despicable, filthy mortal!
Elvin roared, waving his arms, his expression ferocious, the flesh on his face twisting and contorting. The lake blue of his deep eyes was visibly filled with anger, and all the noble demeanor he had grown up with vanished.
To Elvin, everything he had done recently, including preparing to sacrifice Otto to the ancestor, was for the sake of strengthening external common interests and buying time to hope for the continuation of the ancestor’s plan.
But now, the news of Jiang Yao’s pregnancy evidently rendered all his efforts meaningless, accompanied by a profound sense of humiliation.
At this moment, Emma was also trembling all over and dared not lift her head.
She knew that what truly angered this heir of the family might not just be the biological father of the child in the queen’s womb, but the impending sacrifice of Duke Otto, which could be wasted.
The pregnant queen was also a ticking time bomb, and any operation that might disturb the transfer of the bloodline would produce terrifying consequences. Under these circumstances, the Engel family dared not attempt to let the ancestor reclaim the queen.
No, there is still a chance. The ancestor’s plan has not failed…
That child will undoubtedly be the queen, will undoubtedly possess the bloodline of the Sofia royal family. As long as she grows up, she can still become my wife. Along with the ancestor’s plan, we can create a brand new divine family…
The blood-red hue in Elvin’s eyes gradually faded, and his emotions slowly cooled down.
“Miss Emma, inform Qian Guijun that as long as he can bring back Jiang Yao, he can become a secondary collaborator in the ancestor’s plan and gain the qualification for eternal life.”
Elvin’s voice was deep, almost as if he was speaking to himself.
Emma finally sighed in relief, bowing deeply before exiting the office.
……
In a different time zone, at three in the afternoon, Zhong Jing returned from Longquan Mountain, driving into a high-end villa community in Q District of City C.
It had been over a month since his last visit home, back when Zhong Jing was busy preparing travel luggage for Tsurukame Haruka.
The house was still the same, still so luxurious and tidy, but Zhong Jing felt that something was missing.
The moment he entered, his eyes unconsciously darted towards the second floor. It seemed that there should be a Japanese girl in a flowy dress standing there, welcoming him home with a smile.
“I’m back.”
Zhong Hai walked out from the study and glanced at his son. His face was calm and serene, without the expected emotions of a long-separated reunion.
“Your mother is still working out outside; we’re all going out for dinner tonight. By the way, over the past few weeks, the EVN Group and the Tsurukame Consortium have been unable to reach you. Emails have been sent to me, hoping you’ll visit Europe.”
Zhong Hai pointed toward the study direction, as if he had anticipated this.
Zhong Jing paused, pulled out his phone, and unsurprisingly found a mountain of unread emails. He snorted involuntarily, casually threw his suit jacket onto the sofa.
With the Engel family’s decades of layout in Huaguo having been uprooted by his master, could they still withstand such trivial matters of attire?
“`txt
Panic Gate didn’t say anything, merely took out a cigarette and lit it, his mind racing.
“President Tsurukame sent me a personal email yesterday, preparing to increase the investment scale in the cooperative production lines without changing the share ratio…”
Zhong Hai sat down beside his son, gently pressing a hand on his shoulder. “There have been many significant actions recently over in Japan; matters that used to be unnegotiable are suddenly going much smoother. I can guess a bit about Haruka Tsurukame’s affairs. I will have a word with your mother.”
Zhong Jing glanced at his father, managing a forced smile, noncommittal. “Dad, have you ever felt lonely?”
After a brief silence of ten seconds, Zhong Jing suddenly asked.
Zhong Hai was taken aback, then revealed a hint of bitterness: “In my youth, I encountered a dramatically changing era filled with opportunities; I lived passionately and fully, though I also experienced confusion for a while.”
“However, that confusion ended when you were born, then finding your older brother… My sons are all excellent, and I have superior material conditions that most families envy. I’ve always believed that my remaining responsibility in life is to ensure your smooth growth and eventual independence.”
“As for everything else, it’s merely the social interactions and obligations we must navigate as human beings. In reality, most people’s self-worth is just a byproduct of their life responsibilities, ultimately returning to the life of loving someone and being loved back in a family setting.”
“Because of you, your mother, and your brother, I might feel lost and timid in the face of setbacks, but I am never lonely… What did that saying go? Children are always their parents’ burden and always their motivation.”
“Children may not have the ability to change the world, but they will definitely change their parents, preventing them from becoming numb in the hardships and aging of life. Raising children to guard against old age is not just about living without worries; it’s about preventing the aging and decay of the spirit. The bond between parents and children is the cheapest yet most priceless soul insurance in this world.”
“It’s so inexpensive, inexpensive enough to encounter it every day upon waking, requiring no banquets or flattery, readily available. Yet it’s so precious, precious enough that out of billions of people worldwide, only a few or even just one can give it to you, even if it’s just an impatient nickname.”
Zhong Hai leaned back on the sofa, seemingly lost in memories from decades ago, a slight smile forming on his lips.
Listening to this, Zhong Jing’s mind suddenly flashed with the image of a light golden-haired girl and the child within her. “I understand… Dad, Happy Father’s Day.”
Zhong Jing smiled, holding Zhong Hai’s hand with both of his.
……
As the sun set, under the gaze of a group of white coats, Meng Huai left the community carrying fresh ingredients delivered to the platform.
Today, the outdoor activities in the community were quite crowded, with groups of people gathering, pointing at a white-coated healthcare worker or someone wearing protective medical gear.
“All families with small children have to be disinfected at home? Is it serious?”
“It’s that family in Building 7; the child was reported to have contracted some infectious disease after being sent back from kindergarten, which poses a particularly high risk to children!”
“In the coming days, no children in the community will be allowed outside. Look at this commotion; isn’t summer vacation right around the corner? And this happens now?”
“Hey, I thought the entire community would be quarantined. It scared me so much that I bought a lot of stuff for next month!”
Voices clamored, each person sharing their emotions, whether positive or negative. Meng Huai remained calm, directly walking through the “front door” of his own home.
In the living room, Jiang Yan lay weakly on the sofa, covered with a light blanket, appearing drowsy.
The weather was quite warm, but Jiang Yan wore a snug sports outfit. Despite this, she felt a slight chill.
Although his culinary skills weren’t exceptional, Meng Huai prepared a few dishes, filling a food box and squatting down beside Jiang Yan.
The aroma of the food mixed with the odor of Jiang Yan’s illness lingered in the living room, but both had grown numb to the scent.
“Ah, it’s getting late, isn’t there something going on outside? Why are there so many people…”
Jiang Yan opened her eyes, curious as she glanced out the window.
“It’s nothing; a child from a family contracted an infectious disease.” Meng Huai replied nonchalantly, feeding Jiang Yan by alternating between bites of food and spoonfuls of rice. “After dinner, you’ll take a shower, and I’ll give you medicine. Tomorrow morning, Dr. Lu will come by personally.”
Meng Huai, I currently am…
Jiang Yan propped herself up on the sofa, looking at the left side…
Seeing that Jiang Yan lacked appetite, Meng Huai put aside the half-eaten food box and grabbed the light blanket from the sofa, carefully draping it over her. “No, you just haven’t been well enough to go out these past few days.”
“Um… I’ll go lie down in my room for a bit, thank you for cooking today…”
Jiang Yan’s condition seemed poor; the overwhelming sense of fatigue filled her mind and body from morning till night, leaving her with no energy to think too much.
After carrying Jiang Yan back to her bedroom and gently closing the door, Meng Huai sat on the nearby sofa, staring intently at the sleeping girl on the bed, his gaze darkening.
As darkness fell, the streetlights in the community were illuminated, yet the home remained unlit, dim and desolate, devoid of life.
It wasn’t until the outside went completely dark that Meng Huai checked the time and then walked into the living room, rummaging in a corner for a white coat.
By a greenery patch outdoors, a young man clad in protective medical gear sat on a bench, flipping through a tablet computer.
Under the guise of epidemic prevention, deploying personnel in the community—aren’t you afraid of alarming the Wang family?
Disguised as medical personnel, Meng Huai approached the bench, looking down with an icy voice.
“The Enforcement Army came to check two hours ago; there are no Wang family members nearby.”
Han Jiejian looked up, his face behind the transparent protective mask carrying a smile. “Meng Ge, the parents have agreed; there won’t be any measures taken against Jiang Yan for now, but you must guarantee that you watch over her personally. Otherwise, I’ll have to isolate her in the Army General Hospital tonight.”
As he spoke, Han Jiejian revealed a syringe in his hand. “This is a special anesthetic developed from grandmother samples, which can be inhaled or injected. It has minimal side effects and can ensure that Jiang Yan loses mobility for the next twelve hours.”
Meng Huai didn’t reach for it, just staring at Han Jiejian with a cold smile: “Her unstable mutations are worsening, and she has also entered the boiled blood taboo period; there’s no threat for at least three days. Do we still need this?”
“In case of emergency, she’s a multi-lineage queen; no one knows if any accidents could occur.”
Han Jiejian shook his head, forcefully putting the syringe into Meng Huai’s hand. “Meng Ge, there are some things I want to say to you: this time, I must do it. Whether successful or not, I have a feeling the Wang family will not sit idly by. I want to touch this mystery!”
“The Enforcement Army has already dispatched the Blood Dragon Squad to lie in wait near Longquan Mountain, expecting to take action around 2 A.M. Tao Qiaoer will assist in blocking the periphery with the Xuan Shen Squad.”
Han Jiejian raised his hand, vaguely gesturing towards the east.
“I’m familiar with the terrain there, so I should also go. Although Wanzhu is currently in a sleep phase, Zhao Peng’s men still have several knights. Remember your promise—not to harm anyone there; they are not the enemies!”
After several seconds, Meng Huai tore off the white coat, taking a deep breath.
Heh, so you still don’t trust me…
Han Jiejian was startled, then nodded slightly before turning his head in another direction, noticing a young woman in a white coat walking toward him in the dim light.
Meng Huai, you have really changed…
Han Xiaoshu looked at the tall young man with a smile that was neither smiling nor serious, brushing the loose strands of hair by her ear.
“Han Xiaoshu, I’ll take care of her. From here on, it’ll be hard for you to keep an eye on her…”
Meng Huai smiled wryly to himself before turning to leave.
……
In the bedroom, after a brief sleep, Jiang Yan woke up once again, but the surroundings were pitch black.
“I’m here!”
The door opened, and Meng Huai quickly walked to the bed, kneeling down, turning on the bedside lamp while holding Jiang Yan’s hand.
“Meng Team, I might have to leave; I’ll return Jiang Yan to you…”
Jiang Yan squinted at the young man beside her in weakness, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
“Please don’t say that…”
Meng Huai lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly, his voice barely audible.
You’re still avoiding it, aren’t you…
Raising her bandaged left hand to block the light, she also shielded her pale and beautiful face. Jiang Yan’s voice carried a hint of unshed sorrow: “Jiang Yan is Summer Yan…”
This is a fact I can never escape from…
“Don’t say it!” Meng Huai suddenly stood up, turning away, his voice becoming increasingly hoarse, “I believe you are the real Jiang Yan.”
“Ha, still the real Jiang Yan, neither male nor female, right… I, I…”
Jiang Yan chuckled, failing to finish her sentence as tears soaked the bandage on her wrist.
Suddenly, Jiang Yan felt a shadow closing in, and then strong arms tightly engulfed her in an embrace.
Meng Huai buried his head deep in Jiang Yan’s neck, their skin pressed together, gently rubbing against each other.
“Meng Huai, it won’t be long before you won’t be troubled anymore. The Hyacinth and the Wang family can also provide an explanation to Dark Arrow. But I beg you, please let Xiao Yao go; she’s my last relative…”
Pressing herself against Meng Huai’s face, Jiang Yan’s tears streamed uncontrollably down.
Jiang Yan, we can go to a place where no one else can find us; you said so…
Meng Huai slowly adjusted Jiang Yan’s position, an impulse rising within him once more.
“Ha, it’s useless; it’s all in vain; there’s no way; it’s too late…” Jiang Yan desperately wiped the tears from her face, raising her bandaged wrist before Meng Huai’s eyes, a face full of sorrow, “Meng Huai, I’m a flawed queen. You should know what that means…”
“Don’t tell Xiao Yao; once she gives birth, everything will have nothing to do with her.”
Meng Huai’s expression stiffened slightly, but he did not react aggressively.
“I’m not afraid of death; I’m only worried that Xiao Yao will be all alone in the future. I promised Grandma Dean… Meng Huai, you really like the current Jiang Yan, right? Then you’ll protect her sister in the future, won’t you!?”
Jiang Yan wiped her tears, her voice breaking, becoming almost incoherent; by the end, she frantically kissed Meng Huai’s face.
At this moment, there was only raw, hysterical emotion, devoid of any delicacy, subtlety, or warmth.
“There will be a way… there will be…”
Meng Huai tightly closed his eyes and embraced the black-haired girl tightly, stopping her emotions from spiraling out of control.
“Meng Huai, if I lose control and turn into a monster, then please kill me before that. That’s a responsibility Summer Yan should have taken on…”
Before the words were finished, a syringe pierced Jiang Yan’s neck.
Under the light, the gleaming syringe reflected Meng Huai’s twisted, ridiculous, tear-streaked face.
The black-haired girl in his arms slowly grew limp, her eyelids fluttering shut as if she were falling into deep sleep. Meng Huai held her, one hand lightly stroking her hair.
Time slipped away, and soon, a doctor-clad Han Xiaoshu quietly entered the bedroom.
“What is that smell…”
Catching a whiff of a strange, malevolent odor, Han Xiaoshu raised a finger to her nose.
“Remember your promise; she is innocent. Let her pass peacefully through her final journey.”
Meng Huai stood up, adjusting the thin blanket over Jiang Yan, his expression turning grim.
……
As someone departed, the door closed gently. Han Xiaoshu stood by the bed, looking down quietly at the beautiful face that could make the vast majority of women feel inferior.
“Summer Yan is Jiang Yan, is the queen… what a marvelous life… Oh, how annoying; she’s more feminine than most women…”
Han Xiaoshu mumbled as she sat down, pulling out a special anesthetic syringe from her pocket and placing it on the bedside table. Then, she rummaged and pulled out a handgun, gently toyed with it in her hands.
It wasn’t until yesterday that Han Xiaoshu learned everything, yet at this moment, she showed no signs of shock.
“Jiang Yan, perhaps you represent Summer Yan and all the comrades of the Xuan Jia squad who perished due to blood invasion, seeking justice from Meng Huai… This bastard, he can never repay the debts he owes in this lifetime.”
“I thought he joined the special top-secret task force to sacrifice himself to defeat the vampires. Now I understand; it was his fate to go into the blood clan world to repay his debts.”
Han Xiaoshu mused to herself, putting the handgun away, cradling her chin in her hands, propping her elbows on the pillow’s edge, her gaze slowly exploring the face of the black-haired girl…
……
Jiang Yan dreamt again, dreaming of Summer Yan looking back three times, crying as she walked away, vanishing into a misty world.
She did not shout or try to keep her; she simply stared blankly at the figure of the young man in black combat gear, gradually dissolving into the swirling gray mist…
