Chapter 142 A Plan

At both ends of the phone, only their chaotic breathing could be heard.

Zhou Wu seemed to have collapsed on the other end of the phone, rambling incoherently that it was impossible.

Shen Shuangmiao pinched her palms hard to barely maintain a semblance of composure.

Zhou Wu,

Her tone was grave. "Listen, this matter must absolutely not be made public, especially not to Zhu Jin, who must know that we already know."

"Why? We have to stop him! Go tell him we know right now!" Zhou Wu shouted excitedly.

"Then what?"

Shen Shuangmiao scratched her brow. "Watch his hidden plans, move the timeline forward, or provoke him into doing something more extreme?"

Zhou Wu's crying stopped abruptly, leaving only terrified gasps.

"We must pretend we know nothing."

Shen Shuangmiao took a deep breath and forced herself to think, "Only in this way can we find an opportunity to stop him. You should calm down first."

After saying that, she hung up the phone, feeling as if all her strength had been drained away.

She slumped onto the carpet, leaning against the cold glass door, gazing out the window at the sea sinking into darkness.

He really didn't want to live anymore.

My feelings of deep frost and wonder have never been so complex.

She hated Zhu Jin and hoped she would never see him again.

But the eternity she spoke of was not the eternity of being separated by death.

She loved Zhu Jin intensely, and hated him just as intensely.

But no matter what, she couldn't just watch him die like that.

Shen Shuangmiao didn't close her eyes all night.

The island nights are eerily quiet, with only the tireless crashing of the waves against the rocks.

Like a countdown clock, it told her that with every second that passed, Zhu Jin was one step closer to death.

Countless thoughts collided in her mind.

With Zhu Jin's mind made up, any words of comfort would be futile.

If we tell the old man, not to mention whether he can handle it, the consequences could be disastrous if we alert him.

As dawn broke.

Shen Shuangmiao was finally exhausted.

She couldn't expose him directly, as that would drive Zhu Jin to his doom.

We must find a reason that Zhu Jin can accept to interrupt his current plans and buy more time.

...

early morning.

The family doctor came for a check-up as usual.

Shen Shuangmiao, clutching her lower abdomen, sat on the ground, her face pale, and said weakly, "My stomach is very uncomfortable, and I feel dizzy. Could you contact Zhu Jin? I want to go back to the hospital for another detailed examination."

The doctor didn't dare to delay and immediately contacted Zhu Jin.

Upon hearing that she was unwell, Zhu Jin arranged for a helicopter to pick her up and take her to the hospital almost without hesitation.

Shen Shuangmiao went for a check-up first, and then went to see Zhu Jin.

Zhu Jin looked at her, his brows furrowing slightly: "Where does it hurt? What did the doctor say?"

"I just feel inexplicably uncomfortable," Shen Shuangmiao said weakly. "It might be because the sea breeze on the island is too humid, or it might just be because I'm in a bad mood."

Zhu Jin was silent for a moment, then said to the caregiver beside him, "Pour her a glass of warm water."

"I'll do it myself."

Shen Shuangmiao got up and went over, her fingertips trembling slightly.

By pouring water, she blocked Zhu Jin's view with her body and dropped the sleeping pills into the kettle.

The tablet dissolves instantly in water.

Shen Shuangmiao poured a glass of water for Zhu Jin: "You should drink some water too, you still don't look well."

Zhu Jin did not suspect anything.

He was indeed a little thirsty, so he reached out and picked up the glass of water and took a few sips.

The medication takes effect very quickly.

Within ten minutes, Zhu Jin felt a strong drowsiness creeping over him.

He tried to stay awake, but his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Zhu Jin looked at Shen Shuangmiao with confusion, his vision began to blur, and finally his head tilted to the side as he fell asleep.

Shen Shuangmiao immediately stood up, her heart pounding.

She took a deep breath, took out her phone, and dialed Zhou Wu's number.

"He's asleep, proceeding as planned."

Half an hour later, an inconspicuous black sedan pulled up at the hospital.

Zhou Wu entered wearing sunglasses, accompanied by two bodyguards.

The bodyguards, avoiding eye contact, helped Zhu Jin out.

When she got into the car, Shen Shuangmiao was trembling.

"Are you sure you want to take him back?" Zhou Wu's voice was uncertain.

“Going back is the safest place right now, and the only place that can change his mind,” Shen Shuangmiao said firmly. “Drive.”

The car drove to the airport.

...

One night later, Zhu Jin woke up.

He stared at the familiar ceiling light above him, momentarily disoriented, then sat up abruptly, looking around with shock in his eyes.

"woke up?"

Shen Shuangmiao's voice came from the window.

She stood there, backlit, so her expression was obscured.

"What's going on?" Zhu Jin's voice was hoarse and filled with confusion. "How did I end up at the Zhu family's old residence?"

Shen Shuangmiao turned around, walked to the bedside, and looked at him calmly, as if drugging him and bringing him here was the most normal thing in the world.

"I asked Zhou Wu to help bring you back."

"You..." Zhu Jin's eyes darkened, "You don't want to stay with me anymore?"

"No, Zhu Jin."

Shen Shuangmiao stepped forward, "I don't want to watch your company go bankrupt and you become penniless. That would be too easy for Zhao Mobai."

Zhu Jin was stunned, completely unprepared for her to say such a thing.

"Isn't Zhao Mobai your husband? You should stand on his side."

“I have my own principles. I hate that he’s trying to destroy you like this. Zhu Jin, I’ve softened. I don’t want to see you lose everything.”

Shen Shuang said forcefully, "You better pull yourself together, protect the Zhu family's foundation, protect your company, that's what I want to see."

She paused, then, meeting Zhu Jin's shocked and conflicted gaze, threw out the bait she had prepared.

“If you are willing to listen to me and pull yourself together to save your company, I can promise you that I can stay with you on the island for another month.”

After Shen Shuangmiao finished speaking, she held her breath and waited for Zhu Jin's reaction, extremely nervous.

She doesn't know if Zhu Jin will be moved.

Zhu Jin looked at her, his eyes churning with countless emotions.

He curled his lips into a bitter smile: "Shen Shuangmiao, you don't have to do this."

Zhu Jin's voice was soft, yet it struck Shen Shuangmiao's heart like a heavy hammer.

“I don’t need your pity or help to shake me off in this way.”

"I'm not pitying you!"

Shen Shuangmiao was in a panic; she hadn't expected him to refuse so decisively.

“I’m not forcing you! I’m negotiating with you. I’ll give you an extra month in exchange for you getting back on your feet. That’s fair.”

"fair?"

Zhu Jin looked at her, his eyes filled with a smile that Shen Shuangmiao had never seen before.

"For me, nothing is irreplaceable, including the company and everything else. What difference does it make if I stay with you for one more month or one less? Staying with me will only prolong your suffering."

He lay back down, his back to her, and his voice came through in a muffled tone.

"Go back. If you don't want to go to the island, then go find Zhao Mobai. My affairs are none of your business."