Chapter 281: Yan Dai Yao
June 28, Sunday.
The door to the bedroom opened, and Wang’s Uncle Jiu and Wang’s little aunt, wearing masks and carrying several small boxes, stepped out. Inside, Su Xiaomeng was still taking care of the anesthetized Jiang Yan.
Seeing the two prominent medical figures from the Wang family coming down from the upstairs, Meng Huai hurriedly stood up, while Zhong Jing, who was the driver for the dignitaries, appeared somewhat absent-minded, continuing to sit on the sofa smoking.
Uncle Jiu took off his mask and smiled at Meng Huai, saying, “Not bad, her condition has improved. I guessed correctly; she cannot truly be experiencing unstable delirium, just a stress response from the empress’s stability fluctuations. I’ve taken some tissue samples for analysis, and I’ll provide you with the lab report later. The medications she was taking can all be stopped.”
Meng Huai sighed in relief, nodded repeatedly, and then walked over to pat Zhong Jing on the shoulder: “You go and take Uncle Jiu back to the city.”
Zhong Jing glanced towards the bedroom on the second floor, silently nodded, threw away his cigarette butt, and got up to head for the door with a somewhat rude attitude.
Uncle Jiu and Wang’s little aunt smiled, not minding at all.
“Meng, hasn’t Xiaoyao really been found?”
By the bed, Su Xiaomeng was pushing an unknown medication into Jiang Yan while lowering her voice.
“You should ask Sister Wan and your Uncle Jiu.” Meng Huai was fixing Jiang Yan’s bangs, his expression cold. “I know the Wang family’s action plans are ongoing, but neither Jiang Yan nor I will allow them to risk Xiaoyao.”
“Tsk tsk, getting into the groove so quickly, already starting to care about your sister-in-law…”
Su Xiaomeng paused for a moment, smacked her lips, and then pretended to tidy up the instruments, avoiding Meng Huai’s gaze. “Meng Ge, please trust Grandfather, Uncle Si, and Sister Wan. They will definitely have a solid plan.”
Meng Huai said nothing, turning to look out the window.
…
In the outdoor parking lot of the villa, Wang’s little aunt made an excuse to take a walk, and Zhong Jing and Wang’s Uncle Jiu sat in the back seat of the car.
After a moment of silence, Uncle Jiu took out a black bottle from the small box beside him. Clearly, it was the “blood invasion antidote” that Zhong Jing had obtained from the Engel family.
Inside, it was mixed with our forged capsules, filled with three types of primitive medicinal agents using special nano-encapsulation technology.
Uncle Jiu unscrewed the medicine bottle and poured out a few translucent capsules resembling fish oil, laying them in the palm of his hand.
Remember, this one is type A; when crushed, it releases a chemical that the primitives detest, used to maintain a safe distance from them. In emergencies, it can even be taken orally. This is type B; it will elicit an unstable stress response from the primitives. It must be taken in sequence: A first, then B. Make sure to remember!
Zhong Jing picked up the two nearly identical capsules, inspecting them closely under the car’s light. After a long moment, he confirmed the slight differences between them and then shifted his gaze to the last few capsules in Uncle Jiu’s palm.
“This is the improved type C, filled with Jiang Yan’s bone marrow extract and a liquid nano-silver compound. Theoretically, it has a strong attraction for the primitives and can activate their physiological tissues, causing irreversible cell dissolution and immune organ failure.”
These three types will only cause minor adverse reactions in ordinary people, requiring your quick thinking. There are the most type C capsules; familiarize yourself with them, and make sure not to misuse them!
After detailing the “Trojan Horse” that the Wang family had spent astronomical sums to create over six months, Uncle Jiu solemnly repacked the pills and stuffed them into Zhong Jing’s hands.
“Type B will trigger an unstable stress response in the primitives… Heh, Uncle Jiu, Jiang Yan’s illness is actually just a private experiment by your Wang family, right? Otherwise, how can you guarantee the results will be as you expected?”
Zhong Jing toyed with the medicine bottle in his hand and unexpectedly said, a sly smile creeping onto his lips.
Uncle Jiu’s pupils contracted slightly but quickly returned to normal, and he did not answer Zhong Jing’s question.
“Heh, I’m just guessing. I hope my life can be saved by these things… Some secrets, if they can’t be hidden, it’s better to be open about them. If my brother finds out, it won’t just be a mess.”
With the medicine bottle in his chest pocket, Zhong Jing rolled down the car window, lit a cigarette, and wore a somewhat eerie smile.
This kid… really bold, a little demon…
Watching the young man’s profile, Uncle Jiu from the Wang family felt a deep shock, unable to help but admire repeatedly.
…
After sending the two Wang family dignitaries back to the city, Zhong Jing hurried to a certain commercial center, displaying unprecedented patience as he started a large-scale shopping spree.
He carefully selected a lake-embroidered Shanghai-style qipao for his mother, along with a fragrant cloud gauze shawl; for his father Zhong Hai, he bought a leisure suit jacket and a pair of leather shoes.
In addition, there was a pile of cosmetics for his mother and several high-end traditional health supplements for his father. In the past, Zhong Jing would have bought everything online rather than spending time and effort selecting items in physical stores.
When he returned home, it was just in time for dinner.
“Oh dear, how can you carry so many things by yourself!”
Seeing her son moving back and forth with a pile of packaged boxes, Zhong’s mother smiled as she opened her own gift box. When she took out the fragrant cloud gauze shawl, she complained, “Oh, I’m already so old, why are you buying me something in a young girl’s style…”
“Mom, you’re not even fifty, it’s a charming age, and I think it looks great,” Zhong Jing replied.
“Dad, these leather shoes are a limited edition, made of solid materials; this Dendrobium is authentic, let mom see how to prepare it for you to eat.”
Zhong Jing patiently introduced each item as he unwrapped them.
“Where did you get all this?” Zhong Hai picked up a tie package, examined it, and put it aside with a smile. “Aren’t you the least patient when it comes to shopping?”
Zhong Jing smiled: “A buddy is planning to open a high-end health e-commerce platform with a flagship offline store, so I went to support him and strolled around a bit.”
“I’m thinking of going on a business trip to Europe the day after tomorrow; I might have to stay for ten days or so.”
Touching the high-end qipao Zhong Jing bought, Zhong’s mother’s eyes turned a bit red. “Our son is so filial; look at this, everything is just what I wanted…”
Zhong Hai gazed for half a minute at his son’s proud face before gently nodding.
During dinner, the atmosphere was very harmonious. Zhong Jing only took a symbolic few bites, spending most of the time joking around, making Zhong’s mother laugh and cry with joy. The meal was enjoyed heartily.
After dinner, Zhong Jing found an excuse to go out again, and Zhong’s mother entered the study with a smile, saying, “Now you’re at ease; the son’s mindset has adjusted.”
“Yeah… He’s also finding various ways to distract himself; he has matured a lot.”
Zhong Hai put down the newspaper, a hint of contemplation crossing his face as if he felt something was off but could not articulate it.
“By the way, dear, our son said during dinner that he is going to the EVN Group headquarters in Europe on a business trip. Should I go along with him? One of my old friends immigrated to Switzerland last year, and I could visit her on the way.”
Zhong’s mother suddenly remembered something and hurriedly sat next to Zhong Hai.
“No, he’s going for work, and you’re going for leisure. Don’t burden him. If you want to go, choose your own time.”
Zhong Hai frowned and decisively stopped his wife’s sudden whim.
“I’m just being considerate of our son, and you look like this; do you want to ruin his career?”
Zhong’s mother, angry, turned and left.
Zhong Hai remained indifferent, merely turning his head towards the bookshelf, where a photo of the couple holding a one-month-old Zhong Jing was displayed.
Over twenty years ago, Zhong Jing, dressed in an unbuttoned onesie, exposed his confident diaper, pudgy and silly.
…
…
When driving to a certain overpass outside the W district, it was already quite dark.
After shutting off the engine and rolling down the window, Zhong Jing lit a cigarette, staring blankly at a star-rated hotel in the distance.
Two minutes later, a middle-aged man leaned over and got into the back seat of the car.
Zhong Jing exhaled ringlets of smoke without turning around: “Brother Twelve, are you sure Qian guilong will make a move in a few days?”
“Well, Qian guilong has brought a few more people around him, who have been lurking in City C, possibly including a baron from Apennine following Jiang Yao.”
Here are their photos; apart from the suspected Apennine baron foreigner, the others look like Asian knights.
Wang’s Brother Twelve pulled out the photos from his pocket and held them up to Zhong Jing’s ear.
“Let me have some improvisation, huh?” Zhong Jing flipped through seven or eight photos, his expression calm. “The Engel family is still fairly wary, fearing deception. I’m thinking of a suitable reason to cooperate with them.”
Wang’s Brother Twelve quickly nodded: “From today, the Wang family will intentionally increase the hidden protection for Jiang Yao. If you need the Wang family to cooperate in acting, you must notify me in advance.”
Zhong Jing, remember, you are the real Trojan horse; Jiang Yao is just your ticket into the Engel family! Every move you make must be careful!
At this point, Wang’s Brother Twelve’s expression darkened.
Zhong Jing smiled, returning the photos, and gazed again at the distant hotel building: “Yes, when it comes to using a knife to kill someone, you guys are the best at it… I’ll take her out to eat later; you shouldn’t follow. She’s in a bad mood right now, and if she senses the Wang family is around, who knows what might happen.”
After saying this, Zhong Jing secretly glanced at a large bag in the passenger seat, opened the car door, and stepped out.
…
In a luxurious suite on the top floor of the hotel, Jiang Yao was taking a shower.
Lying in the bathtub, the water was at a comfortable temperature. Jiang Yao gently touched her abdomen, which, compared to a few weeks ago, didn’t seem very noticeable, but the fetus’s movements were much more frequent and clear.
At this moment, Jiang Yao could feel that the fetus was tired from its antics and was now sleeping.
From her legs to her abdomen, and then to her chest, she stroked her body’s surface, her face slightly flushed.
A faint sound of someone entering came through the door, and a familiar outline appeared on the frosted glass.
“Bring me a bottle of milk, Zhong Jing.”
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Yao called gently to the outside.
A minute later, Zhong Jing entered with a peculiar expression.
In the bathtub, clear as day, Jiang Yao was soaking like a mermaid, her head wrapped in a snowy white towel, only a few light golden strands of hair visible, and her face was rosy.
Compared to her previous slim and delicate appearance, Jiang Yao now had a more rounded charm, and even though she hadn’t used any bath products, a faint alluring fragrance still wafted around her.
“You’re pregnant; how can you take a bath?”
Two seconds later, Zhong Jing lowered his head slightly, trying to keep his gaze off the bathtub as he handed the carton of milk over the edge. Although they had already been intimate, he still wasn’t psychologically prepared to interact as if it was completely normal.
“Heh, you’re the only one who understands? Don’t worry, I checked; after fourteen weeks, it’s fine to take baths without any harm to the body.”
Jiang Yao casually leaned against the edge of the bathtub, sipping from a straw to drain the milk, showing a relaxed expression, but out of the corner of her eye, she was stealing glances at Zhong Jing’s current expression.
“Help me up, wipe me dry, and carry me back to bed.”
Jiang Yao opened her arms, her wet body glistening under the light.
Zhong Jing pursed his lips, carefully taking Jiang Yao out of the bathtub and grabbing a towel from beside her, meticulously drying her from head to toe, and finally wrapping her in a bathrobe before cradling her in his arms.
As Jiang Yao nestled against Zhong Jing, her eyes misted over, and she leaned her tiny mouth close to his cheek: “Zhong Jing, I want to…”
Zhong Jing was taken aback, and the body he was holding trembled slightly.
“I’ve checked; it’s okay now…”
Jiang Yao closed her eyes, tightening her arms around Zhong Jing’s neck, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
“You haven’t eaten dinner yet. Get dressed and fill your stomach first; we’ll come back afterward.”
Gently placing Jiang Yao on the bed and rubbing her head, Zhong Jing smiled nonchalantly.
…
Thirty minutes later, Zhong Jing and Jiang Yao arrived at a high-end restaurant in a commercial square within the city.
Western cuisine, red wine—today, Zhong Jing was especially elegant. Apart from the slight teasing he usually engaged in, he acted more like a lover desperately suppressing his urge to confess.
Jiang Yao didn’t drink, but from departure until now, she had been filled with doubts, unable to understand why he seemed to have a completely different personality.
Zhong Jing had a bit too much to drink; his face, neck, and eyes were flushed. Finally, with Jiang Yao’s assistance, he took the elevator down to the underground parking lot.
Once inside the car, Zhong Jing sobered up, staring blankly at the windshield as if he had lost his soul.
“Zhong Jing, are you hiding something from me…?”
Jiang Yao slightly tilted her head, biting her lip, gripping Zhong Jing’s arm.
Zhong Jing took a deep breath, turned around to retrieve a large bag from the back seat, unzipped it to reveal the contents inside.
“These are two bank cards, both issued under third-party names. The password is my birthday… This phone has applications I installed in advance, and the SIM card is also from a third party; only I know the number…”
“Xiaoyao, I’ll have a friend take you to a place no one knows about. Please don’t take any planes, high-speed trains, or long-distance buses that require identification…”
The business card in the wallet held the contact information of some of my close friends; I’ve already informed them that if anything happens, they will assist you… This is a fake ID, which can stand in when needed.”
Zhong Jing introduced each item one by one, while Jiang Yao appeared dazed, silent.
A rugged luxury SUV entered the underground parking lot, circling several times before stopping in front of Zhong Jing’s vehicle. A flamboyantly dressed trendy youth stepped out.
“Hey, Jingzi! Sorry to keep you waiting,” the trendy youth said as he walked to the car door, winking at Zhong Jing and greeting the light-haired girl in the passenger seat: “Hey, is this your sister-in-law?”
Zhong Jing got out of the car and smiled, handing over a pack of cigarettes: “Da Han, I’m entrusting my girlfriend to you tonight; don’t let anyone find out.”
After glancing at Jiang Yao again, the trendy youth clapped Zhong Jing on the shoulder, looking very responsible. “Don’t worry, we’re close like brothers; I’ll make sure she doesn’t get found out by your parents.”
Jiang Yao finally came back to her senses and slowly walked behind Zhong Jing, her voice a bit agitated: “Zhong Jing… where are you sending me?”
Zhong Jing turned around, wrapping his arm around the girl and whispering into her ear, “While the Wang family isn’t around, we’re leaving City C. After things settle down, I’ll come to find you… Remember to sit in the back. Lie down before we hit the highway to avoid monitors.”
After saying this, he kissed Jiang Yao’s small face, took out the large bag, and led her into the trendy youth’s car.
Zhong Jing!
As the vehicle started, Jiang Yao rolled down the window, watching the youth gradually recede from view before finally bursting into tears.
A few minutes later, Zhong Jing took out his phone.
“Jiang Yao, Xiaoyao wants to talk to you. It’s best if you come alone; don’t let the Wang family follow… Yeah, she’s fine; her emotions have stabilized a lot… Hey, right, the location is at the old site of the W District Children’s Welfare Institute.”
After hanging up the phone and checking the time, it was 8:30 PM. Zhong Jing took a deep breath and walked toward the parking lot exit, preparing to take a rental car to the airport, with the destination being Da Nang in Vietnam.
【Miss Emma, let Qian Guilong prepare.】
As he opened the taxi door, Zhong Jing used another phone to send the agreed signal.
Meng Huai, Xiaoyao has been located, at the old site of the W District Children’s Welfare Institute.
Putting down the phone, Jiang Yan hurried to the stairs, intending to change her clothes in the bedroom on the first floor.
“Zhong Jing and Xiaoyao are together? Are you going now?” Meng Huai quickly turned off the TV, fondling the car keys in his hand. “Let me drive you; it’s getting late.”
Jiang Yan paused, slowly turning back with a somewhat troubled expression: “Meng Huai, you can’t go. You know, Xiaoyao…”
Meng Huai was taken aback, took a couple of steps back, and silently nodded.
In the outdoor parking lot, there were still two cars, one from Jiang Yan’s place and one left by Wan Yue. Jiang Yan drove off in the first one, hardly saying a word to Meng Huai in goodbye.
Meng De sighed lightly.
An hour later, Jiang Yan stepped into the old site of the W District Children’s Welfare Institute.
Venturing into the ruins, crossing through the once-familiar tall and low buildings, every spot she stepped on, the charred rubble still emitted the remnants of last year’s great fire.
She could not sense any pheromones from Jiang Yao’s presence, but from some clues, Jiang Yan judged that Jiang Yao had definitely been here recently.
Finally, Jiang Yan arrived inside a low building, where she saw a flicker of candlelight in a rickety room.
This room was a dormitory that Xia Yan and Gu Yan once lived in during childhood, and even gazing at the corner where Autumn Chen lit candles brought her back to where the beds were positioned back then.
The dim candlelight illuminated a small area, where she could vaguely see a backpack and a coat worn by Jiang Yao thrown on a cushion.
Footsteps echoed, and a strange chaotic aura broke through her senses.
Perhaps the Wang family had followed her; Jiang Yan turned her head, her brow furrowing: “Didn’t I tell you not to follow? Xiaoyao doesn’t want to see you.”
“Tsk tsk, Jiang Yan, do you trust Zhong Jing that much? Is it that this scoundrel truly satisfies you?”
A chilling laughter emerged from the end of the dark corridor as a medium-sized man in black slowly approached, dragging someone behind him.
“You are from the Black Blood Clan…”
Mixed in the chaos was a very unpleasant essence, especially from the right hand that held a knight whose neck and chest were spurting blood. Jiang Yan’s pupils suddenly constricted.
The blood-soaked and barely conscious Wang Sheng was someone Jiang Yan knew very well.
At that moment, Wang Sheng dangled like a broken sack from Qian Guilong’s right hand, his eyes glazed, blood constantly seeping from his mouth as he seemed to mumble “run.”
“You’re Qian Guilong?” Jiang Yan finally understood, her body slowly lowering as her right hand moved to her skirt, “Where’s Xiaoyao?”
“This girl you should ask Zhong Jing; I’m just here to pick you up.” Qian Guilong discarded Wang Sheng’s body and licked his lips. “What a luxurious world, to have two empresses…”
Jiang Yan’s blood surged, and she swiftly lifted her skirt, drawing a dagger from the outside of her thigh.
A stench of mist erupted suddenly from Qian Guilong’s exposed skin, the vaporized blood oozing from his body hair’s capillaries.
Jiang Yan’s surging blood only lasted less than two seconds before she felt a dizzy spell overwhelm her, freezing her all over.
Approaching the third stage of the empress, Jiang Yan felt like an engine that had run out of fuel, stalling in her dry lips.
A bone claw constricted her throat, and she struggled to breathe harder. The dagger fell to the ground as she weakly reached for his arm, futilely tearing…
An hour later, a rugged SUV screeched to a halt in front of the old site of the W District Children’s Welfare Institute. Meng De charged through the gate like a madman, his strong body even knocking over half a crumbled wall.
On the northbound highway, Jiang Yao sat in the back seat, glassy-eyed, gazing at the intermittent streaks of light passing by outside, her lips gently moving.
“…So, sister-in-law, think more about Jingzi; his family, the interpersonal relationships inside and out are complicated…”
“…Don’t worry, Xinyu, we brothers will take good care of you. Once he resolves his family issues, he’ll bring you back!”
In the driver’s seat, the trendy youth known as Da Han chattered incessantly, repeating similar dialogues in various forms.
“Han Ge, I need to use the restroom…”
Finally, Jiang Yao turned her head slightly, giving a faint smile to the trendy youth.
“No problem, there’s a highway service area ahead. I’ll speed up; it’ll be just five minutes at most.”
The trendy youth whistled, turning to flirt in a suave manner with the light-haired girl in the rearview mirror.
Fifteen minutes later, from a certain highway service area, the luxurious SUV back on the road, but this time in the driver’s seat sat Jiang Yao, whose face was frosty.
