Chapter 50: Tsurumi Haruka
September 4, Wednesday.
Counting from the day of hibernation, Jiang Yao has been asleep for over half a month.
Every day at ten in the morning, Zhong Jing would appear in Jiang Yao’s room on time, casually moving a small stool to sit in the corner as if no one were around. Occasionally, he would take his laptop and go work or play games in the hall for a while.
Zhong Jing rarely visited the Golden River Club before, so his frequent appearances now naturally attracted attention from many members of Hyacinth. However, most people still turned a blind eye to the “apprentice” of the Hyacinth leader.
“Brother Zhao, can she hear us talking while she’s in hibernation?”
Suddenly, Zhong Jing asked Zhao Peng, who had come to check on the situation, a random question.
“Sometimes she might, but most of the time, she’s just having strange dreams.”
Zhao Peng casually replied after checking the monitoring data on various instruments, “If the dreams become fewer, then her perception of the outside world will increase, and she will eventually wake up and end her hibernation.”
What Zhao Peng mentioned was his own experience when he became a knight, and he didn’t know the differences between individuals.
“Hey, that’s good!”
Zhong Jing quickly moved his small stool to the bedside and began to tell a melodramatic story about some game he played with someone on a certain day.
Talking to a girl who was in a state of hibernation and seemed lifeless made a few Hyacinth girls who came in and out feel both amused and annoyed, as if Zhong Jing were just a fool talking to a piece of wood.
“…Actually, I think your golden hair is a bit wasted. There’s no need to have the same ponytail as Jiang Yan; you should have some personal style, right? I think natural shoulder-length hair is best, as it goes with any outfit! Or maybe a braid style like Asuna would work too.”
After talking almost non-stop for an hour, Zhong Jing had shifted the topic from games and anime to the other girl’s hairstyle and clothing style, while the fair-haired girl on the bed remained serene, as if patiently listening.
Feeling a little foolish, Zhong Jing smiled sheepishly and checked the time, intending to get up for lunch. Suddenly, he noticed a subtle change in the expression on the sleeping girl’s face, a slight smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.
“Hey, Xiao Ai, she should be hearing me talk! This will help her wake up faster, right?”
Zhong Jing excitedly sat back down on the small stool and, in front of Xiao Ai, attempted to hold Jiang Yao’s hand.
With a slap, Xiao Ai swatted his hand away, her expressionless face showing a hint of disdain: “Xiao Jing, do you have too much time on your hands? You’re always hanging out here!”
“Really?” Zhong Jing awkwardly retracted his hand, grinning mischievously. “Isn’t witnessing the birth of a knight an incredibly meaningful event?”
Just as he was speaking, it seemed he noticed something. Zhong Jing’s expression changed abruptly, and he quickly stood up, a bitter smile on his face: “Master, you’re back.”
Oh no, is someone playing tricks again?
Xiao Ai couldn’t be bothered to turn around and just rolled her eyes at the serious-looking Zhong Jing, as if she had already seen through his little pranks.
“Hey… Xiao Ai can see through me.” Zhong Jing’s expression changed again, turning playful.
“Xiao Ai, is everything alright?”
A voice came from Wan Yue as she approached the bedside, ignoring everyone else and carefully scrutinizing the sleeping Jiang Yao. Behind her stood Zhao Peng and Jiang Yan, silently smiling.
“Ah! Wan Jie, you really came back!”
Xiao Ai quickly turned around, realizing she had been tricked by Zhong Jing once again.
“Jiang Yan stays; the rest of you can go outside. Also, starting today, regarding anything about Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao, everyone should keep their mouths shut and not say a word to outsiders!”
After issuing a decree, Wan Yue didn’t care whether the occasion was appropriate and lit a cigarette.
A few seconds later, the door closed, leaving only Jiang Yan alone.
Standing quietly at the head of the bed, Wan Yue slowly finished a cigarette, and at the moment she flicked away the butt, her wrist moved, and a silver handgun appeared, aimed directly at Jiang Yao’s head!
Jiang Yan was taken aback, completely caught off guard, going rigid all over.
“You guys were members of the Dark Arrow squad before you were infected, right? Four months ago, on that night in City D, both of you participated in the operation. What were you infected by?”
Wan Yue’s gaze was piercing, her voice soft but each word chilling: “There’s no need to lie; Huang Gu couldn’t have coincidentally found two people infected in the outskirts of City D, just after shedding their Dark Arrow uniforms and who also happen to have special blood types! Don’t tell me you were infected by that old fool Tang Zhaowen!”
“Wan Jie, that big meatball from the Tang family… it was him who infected both me and Xiao Yao. With your insight and sources of information, whether I’m lying or not may not matter anymore.”
Jiang Yan surprisingly calmed down, slowly sitting at the bedside, her expression equally indifferent.
“Getting infected by that big meatball, what kind of monsters are you… it’s only been four months, and you’re already upgrading to knights; you’ll scare all the blood clans in this world…”
Wan Yue gently moved the gun away, sat down on the couch, her gaze losing its murderous intent but becoming even colder.
“Wan Jie, do you still think you’re a monster after all these years?”
Jiang Yan watched her intently, a bitter look on her face: “Initially, we just wanted to survive; maybe now, we’ve added another goal: finding the truth about ourselves…”
Wan Yue was momentarily taken aback, then helplessly shook her head: “You know, the first time I met you, I felt an uncontrollable urge to kill you… I don’t know why, but subconsciously I thought you were very frightening… As for the truth, I want to know, but I dare not imagine it.”
Wan Yue walked beside Jiang Yan,
reaching out to touch her chin, her cold gaze fixed firmly on Jiang Yan’s delicate face.
Jiang Yan opened Wan Yue’s hand, seemingly unafraid of her identity as the Hyacinth leader.
Jiang Yan simply turned to stroke Jiang Yao’s hair: “Not long ago, didn’t you say we could become members of Hyacinth? Xiao Yao and I have been trying hard… Wan Jie, have we given you too much pressure?”
After hearing Jiang Yan’s words, Wan Yue sighed deeply, a hint of pain in her eyes, with bloodshot veins from accumulated fatigue and mental stress creeping into view.
“To figure out what the Tang family has done, many have died since decades ago… who knows how many more will die in the future… perhaps the best way is for you to stay in Hyacinth forever.”
“Right now, there are some remarkable figures searching for you everywhere; with their means, it’s only a matter of time.”
“As long as I’m alive, I won’t let you fall into anyone’s hands. Please grow strong enough to make everyone fear you before uncovering the truth…”
“I’ll get some great elixirs for you; the truth also requires strength to explore, so let me see a result.”
After speaking, Wan Yue approached the bed, gently caressing Jiang Yao’s face, brushing away a few stray locks of hair sticking to her cheek, her expression once again returning to calm.
The previous emotion seemed like a reckless outburst from internal pressure, particularly uncommon for Wan Yue, but very normal.
“Thank you, Wan Jie…”
Jiang Yan stood up, lowering her head, and a few seconds later, she heard the sound of Wan Yue’s high heels clicking away.
With a light sigh, she lifted her skirt, pulled out the handgun, inserted a round, rubbed it for a few seconds, and then reholstered it.
Outside, in the corridor lined with black and gold, Wan Yue looked blankly at the silent dozen or so Hyacinth members below, her mind suddenly in disarray.
The past half a month was spent accompanying the Engel family throughout the underground world of City D, and the Tang family, once a powerful faction, was now reduced to a few trembling kittens hiding in dark corners, completely clueless.
Jiang Yan had already informed her of a chilling piece of information last time: the Tang family had raised a terrifying big meatball.
But such a secret had been easily detected by the Dark Arrow squad, which was illogical for a traditional blood clan family like them.
Could it be the Wang family? Did they notice something off with the Tang family?
Wan Yue suddenly thought of the domestic first orthodox blood clan family based in the western provinces, covering half of China with its influence and power.
Not to mention, the Wang family indeed kept a close watch on all the small families within its sphere, clearly disapproving of the Tang family continuing their actions, hence deliberately using the Dark Arrow as a knife. But did they know the truth behind it?
After a certain raid, the Dark Arrow squad initiated an unprecedented sweep of the underground blood clan world in City D, attempting to erase all traces that could lead to the truth behind the Tang family.
This indicated that the Dark Arrow squad had also come into contact with part of the information regarding the Tang family and that mysterious big meatball, seeking to shut down all possible information channels.
What was the significance of such a blockade? Who was it directed at?
Thinking of this, Wan Yue suddenly raised her head: “Zhao Peng, go to the Wang family!”
In the first-floor hall, Zhao Peng straightened his suit, glanced around at his colleagues, and then quickly headed for the second floor.
…
…
As night fell, it started to rain lightly.
In a central villa of a high-end residential area in Q District, two luxury cars slowly approached. The villa’s main door was wide open, and Zhong Hai was waiting with his wife and second son, Zhong Jing.
The first car had a short young man step out quickly, who then walked briskly to the back car and opened the rear door.
The door opened, revealing a high-heeled shoe beneath an elegant Western-style long dress, followed by a graceful and dignified young girl getting out, with the short young man holding an umbrella standing behind her.
The girl’s height was about 160 centimeters, with long hair cascading down her shoulders, a beautiful floral bow at the back of her head, a touch of makeup enhancing her looks, and her demeanor was elegant and mature.
“I’m very sorry, my flight was delayed; thank you for your patience.”
Tsurumi Haruka placed her hands in front of her and deeply bowed, her manner gracious and gentle, as if immensely ashamed of being twenty minutes late.
“Miss Tsurumi, you are too polite; it is an honor to have you as our guest today!”
Zhong Hai stepped forward, smiling and gesturing before turning to his second son.
The eldest son was clueless and couldn’t connect, and with an esteemed guest present, the absence of one family member made Zhong Hai feel that his preparations over the past half month had some flaws. What worried him more was that Zhong Jing seemed merely to be fulfilling a family hosting duty, showing no interest in the guest herself.
“Uncle Zhong, please just call me Haruka. My grandfather has often mentioned your name, and it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I hope to trouble you often in the future.”
Tsurumi Haruka smiled sweetly at the head of the Zhong family, bowing again.
Hehe, so this is the only granddaughter of the prestigious Tsurumi Consortium from Japan? She looks just like a character from an anime, particularly resembling that aristocratic villainous girl…
In just a glance, Zhong Jing’s mind sparked with several strange character concepts, even beginning to compare her with Jiang Yao.
However, the awkward part was that, at least at this moment, setting aside height, looks, and figure, Tsurumi Haruka’s demeanor, aura, and way of speaking absolutely overshadowed that blonde girl.
To host the daughter of the Tsurumi consortium, the Zhong family arranged an exquisitely luxurious Western dinner, and with the spacious dining room complemented by extra help from a domestic team, the atmosphere was raised to the max.
Tsurumi Haruka’s performance at the dining table was textbook elegant and proper.
During the meal, some formal yet amusing exchanges drew the two sides closer together, and Tsurumi Haruka’s fluent Mandarin made it hard to believe she was a Japanese girl visiting China for the first time.
After dinner, accompanied by Zhong Jing, Tsurumi Haruka toured the Zhong villa, displaying various expressions of shock and envy, especially upon seeing the super bedroom on the second floor that she could move into anytime, happily bowing to express her gratitude several times.
Tsurumi Haruka’s first visit ended perfectly, and as she watched the convoy leave, Zhong Jing’s expression gradually became serious.
Though Tsurumi Haruka was the main character, Zhong Jing had been paying attention to the wooden-like short young man behind her, and he seemed to catch a whiff of something familiar from the other.
“Alright, this was just a first meeting for everyone to get to know each other. Zhong Jing, Miss Tsurumi is now studying in China and will be our guest every weekend. She’s only four years younger than you, so you youngsters should get along well. Don’t just hang out outside during weekends; spend more time with her.”
Zhong Jing appeared to have solved a major problem, his expression now much more relaxed.
Meanwhile, Zhong Jing also noticed his father Zhong Hai’s deeply buried anxiety and tension beneath his amiable expression. After all, his father’s initial stage of business was deeply intertwined with the Tsurumi consortium, even to the point of being the only one.
“What common ground can I have with the daughter of a Japanese consortium? We’re not on the same level; in their eyes, we’re no different from nouveau riche.”
Zhong Jing scoffed, pulling off his tie and turning to walk back into the villa.
“Ah, you kid, even though her family background is impressive, the Zhong family can also be considered a significant household in S Province. Our families have been friendly for over twenty years; it’s quite a fitting match! You like Japanese anime, right? You can relate to her that way!”
Seeing her son show no sign of appreciation for Tsurumi Haruka, Zhong Ma’s face dropped, and she sternly began to lecturing him, reaching out to grab his hand.
“Forget it; it’s first time getting to know each other. More contact will help. Didn’t your dad and I go through the same thing back in the day?”
Zhong Hai was calm, stopping his wife, his expression steady.
“Uh… let’s just wait and see… but honey, you mentioned that the Tsurumi family plans to ally with us; don’t joke about that. I just want to make it clear that the elder son’s personality is not suitable; Jing’er will succeed your role, so you can’t choose him!”
Zhong Ma thought for a moment and began to whisper again, stirring up that hint of anxiety in Zhong Hai’s heart.
