Chapter 76 Darling, just tell me anything

Shen Jingni met Chang An's father, Chang Qingbai.

Zhao Zonglan called him Uncle Chang, and she obediently followed suit.

Chang Qingbai had taken care of Zhao Zonglan for ten years and knew his personality well. The moment he saw Shen Jingni, he knew that this girl was very special to Zhao Zonglan.

In the afternoon, the CEO of Jingyao Capital's New York branch came to report to Zhao Zonglan.

Shen Jingni watched Uncle Chang prune the withered branches of the geraniums in the courtyard.

At that time, the geranium flowers grew in clusters, their colors vibrant, resembling beautiful flame-shaped hydrangeas.

She wanted to help, but Uncle Chang stopped her.

"The sap of this geranium is poisonous. It can cause skin irritation at best and ulceration at worst. Miss Shen is not wearing gloves, so you must not touch it."

"Oh." Shen Jingni awkwardly withdrew her hand and decided to stay put.

Chang An was reserved and gentle, but his father, Chang Qingbai, was not like that; he was much more talkative than Chang An.

"This flower is not easy to grow; it's very delicate. It needs good ventilation but can't be exposed to direct sunlight for too long, and it needs to be allowed to dry out slightly between waterings..."

"At first, Young Master Zonglan didn't have the patience to care for it and didn't even look at it. Later, I don't know why, he became interested and raised a few plants."

At this point, Uncle Chang took off his gloves, as if he had suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, I still have some photos, Miss Shen can take a look."

Chang Qingbai kept this photo album.

These are photos of Zhao Zonglan during his time in New York.

But there were only a dozen or so in total.

While Shen Jingni was looking through the photo album, he stood beside her and whispered, "Young Master Zonglan has always been quiet and reserved since he was a child. These photos were all taken by me secretly. More than ten or twenty years have passed, so they may not be very clear."

It is indeed a bit blurry.

Even without a clear picture, it's evident that Zhao Zonglan, though somewhat immature in his youth, possessed striking features and an exceptional temperament.

However, there was a hint of gloom in his eyes and brows.

Shen Jingni looked at it carefully, then slowly turned to the next page.

In the yellowed photo, Zhao Zonglan stands on the ring, surrounded by dim lights, with the excited crowd of onlookers barely visible.

He was shirtless, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his cheekbones swollen and red. Beside him, his burly coach was raising his hand high in some kind of victory pose.

But Zhao Zonglan showed no joy of victory; his expression was calm, only as cold as still water.

Shen Jingni was stunned. Looking at his body covered in wounds, she felt a pang of heartache for him.

"Uncle Chang, what's the story behind this photo?"

"This photo was taken when the young master was eighteen years old, when he was taken to an underground fighting arena by his fighting coach to compete. Although he won, he was also injured. That damn coach was too strict."

Upon hearing this, Shen Jingni also became angry, "What kind of lousy coach is this? Why doesn't Zhao Zonglan resist?!"

Chang Qingbai's tone suddenly turned serious: "It was because the young master wanted to grow up quickly that he had a very tough time all those years."

Not only do they have to study and learn knowledge and self-defense techniques, but they also have to learn business and investment from the old man's people.

Speaking of education, Shen Jingni asked, "Which university did Zhao Zonglan graduate from?"

Columbia University.

"I returned to China after graduating from university."

...

Shen Jingni felt a little uneasy after hearing Uncle Chang talk about Zhao Zonglan's experiences in New York.

She lived in a happy family, so she didn't quite understand why the Zhao family wanted to send him to New York and force him to grow up.

Shen Jingni even found it a bit absurd and laughable.

"Is this the Zhao family's usual way of raising children?"

Chang Qingbai shook his head, sneered, and bluntly said, "Zhao Yanhe said to the outside world that he was sending the young master to New York to hone his skills. Bah! His true intentions are obvious."

Although this was a secret of the Zhao family, Chang Qingbai felt that Shen Jingni was no longer an outsider and had the right to know.

“Young Master Zonglan was born calm and intelligent, and he is most like his grandfather, Old Master Zhao.”

"So in the old man's will, he was the first heir."

"Zhao Yanhe wants Young Master Zonglan to rot in New York."

In such powerful and influential families, sometimes, kinship and love are far less important than power and personal desires.

New York City is no exaggeration to describe it as a place of extravagance and debauchery; those with weaker willpower might truly be ruined.

"Fortunately, the old man had people in America back then, and the old lady was also secretly helping him, so young master Zonglan was able to return to China smoothly and have the capital to contend with Zhao Yanhe."

As he spoke, Chang Qingbai choked up a little, "Others only see Mr. Zhao today, but no one knows the hardships he endured over the past ten years."

"You have to fight tooth and nail to get everything you want."

Shen Jingni felt a little sad as she listened.

She felt that Zhao Yanhe was truly cold-hearted and heartless, and an unkind father.

Zhao Zonglan was already being very kind by simply sending him abroad.

It's best not to forgive for the rest of your life.

She closed the photo album and asked Uncle Chang, "Does Zhao Zonglan have any favorite foods in New York?"

Chang Qingbai turned away and wiped his tears. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Yes, there's a pan-fried bun shop in Flushing. Occasionally when I pass by there, he'll ask someone to buy me a bag."

"But I haven't been there since I became an adult."

As the heir to a prestigious family, one cannot easily reveal one's preferences.

Life is exhausting.

When Zhao Zonglan finished discussing work with the branch company's CEO and came out of the study, it was already dusk.

Not seeing Shen Jingni, he frowned and asked Chang An, "Where is she?"

Chang An answered honestly, "My dad took Miss Shen to Flushing. Miss Shen said she wanted to buy you pan-fried buns."

Zhong Wei, who was eating sunflower seeds in the living room, turned serious upon hearing this.

He looked at Zhao Zonglan, his tone somewhat grave: "Sir, Flushing has been rather unsettled lately."

——

Chang Qingbai led Shen Jingni to that Chinese snack shop.

However, it's lunchtime right now, so it's quite crowded and we'll have to wait.

“Miss Chen, are you alright here all by yourself? I’d like to go across the street and buy some jianbing guozi (Chinese crepes). Chang An and Zhong Wei both like them.”

Shen Jingni is not a child anymore; she can definitely buy things on her own.

"Okay, go ahead."

Uncle Chang didn't dare to delay. Although he was over sixty, he walked briskly and quickly crossed the sidewalk toward another Chinese restaurant.

Shen Jingni waited for more than ten minutes before finally buying one, packing it in an oil paper bag, and carrying it out of the store.

But after walking only a few steps, they heard gunshots coming from not far away, the sound sharp and penetrating.

Immediately following was a panicked scream and a frantic scattering of people.

In that instant, she clearly saw that only about ten meters away from her, a young man was shot several times and suddenly fell to the ground, blood seeping out and spreading.

Another person was hit in the head...

In an instant, it seemed as if the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and a strong stench of blood.

Shen Jingni was born in a peaceful and safe country and was pampered by her family from a young age; she had never seen these things.

Although I've seen intense fights and gun battles in movies, it's completely different from seeing them in person.

In reality, it's even more terrifying.

She clutched the oil paper bag tightly in her hand, instinctively trying to dodge...

Suddenly, a warm hand covered her eyes.

Shen Jingni's eyelashes trembled slightly, and suddenly she was drawn into that familiar and reassuring embrace.

Zhao Zonglan held her, his voice low and gentle: "Be good, don't look."

The motive for this shooting is unclear; it was sudden, without any warning, and was also very cruel.

It's hard to say whether it's criminals retaliating against society or seeking revenge.

Shen Jingni was carried into the car by Zhao Zonglan.

Zhong Wei always drives steadily and fast, and his car is bulletproof, so he quickly drove away from the danger zone.

"Sir, judging from the mental state of the two men who fired the shots, they must have been high on drugs."

Recently, quite a few similar situations have occurred here.

They couldn't easily intervene, so they had to let the local police handle it.

Zhao Zonglan was in no mood to analyze the shooting incident at this moment.

He looked at Shen Jingni in his arms.

She was looking down, dazed and shaken, unconsciously clutching the bag in her hand, her knuckles white from the force.

Zhao Zonglan frowned.

His warm fingers caressed her cheek, then gently lifted her chin. He lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "Shen Jingni, look at me."

Shen Jingni slowly raised her eyelashes and looked at the handsome and familiar face in front of her. Only then did she come back to her senses, and the strength in her hands finally loosened a little.

Her voice was hoarse, but she tried to remain calm, "I bought you... I bought you pan-fried buns."

Zhao Zonglan glanced at what she was holding, and a bitter feeling welled up in his throat.

He half-closed his eyes, pressed his forehead against hers, and said in a deep voice, "Don't be afraid."

"Um."

Throughout the journey, Shen Jingni spoke very little.

Back at the villa, she became unusually clingy.

Wherever Zhao Zonglan went, she would follow, neither crying nor making a fuss, just sitting there, holding his hand, or being held by him.

After dinner, Zhao Zonglan carried her back to her room and placed her on the edge of the bed.

Chang An knocked on the door from the outside and asked, "Sir, Secretary Gu is calling."

Thinking he was about to leave, Shen Jingni almost instinctively reached out and grabbed his shirt at the waist.

She remained silent, her eyes slightly red, like a pitiful abandoned kitten.

Zhao Zonglan patted her head and gently comforted her, "I won't leave."

He asked Chang An to bring the phone in.

Shen Jingni sat obediently on the edge of the bed, wrapped her arms around him, pressed her face against his waist and abdomen, and listened silently to him talking on the phone.

Zhao Zonglan stood in front of her, letting her hug him like that. He held his phone in one hand and patted her head with the other, glancing down at her every now and then.

Her unusual behavior says it all.

They were frightened.

The group has an urgent video conference about the California tech industry, and Zhao Zonglan needs to be present to make a decision.

Gu Qian sounded a little anxious, and Shen Jingni overheard some of it.

She let go of his arms.

The meaning is clear: let him go and get busy.

Zhao Zonglan hung up the phone, leaned down, met her dim eyes, and asked softly, "May I go?"

It was to solicit her opinion.

If she doesn't agree, he won't go, or he'll take her with him.

Shen Jingni nodded.

Zhao Zonglan kissed her forehead: "Then you go to sleep first, I'll be back soon."

"Um."

——

Zhao Zonglan kept the meeting under control for less than half an hour.

Afterwards, he lit a cigarette and instructed Chang An: "Find a psychologist who can speak Chinese, as soon as possible."

"yes."

Chang An lowered his head and hesitated before speaking up for Chang Qingbai: "Sir, my father just returned to New York a few days ago. He didn't know that Flushing was unsafe."

Zhao Zonglan took a drag of his cigarette and said in a calm voice, "I know."

Uncle Chang meant well; if anyone is to blame, it's those reckless bastards.

He was feeling frustrated, and cigarettes seemed to offer no relief.

With only half the cigarette burning between his fingers, Zhao Zonglan extinguished it in the ashtray.

The light in the master bedroom was still on.

Zhao Zonglan pushed open the door and went in, only to see Shen Jingni sitting on the sofa in the outer room, wearing a nightgown, her hands wrapped around her knees, looking at him sideways.

Those once clear and bright eyes were now dull and lifeless, with red at the corners.

Her voice was soft and a little aggrieved, "Zhao Zonglan, I can't sleep."

As soon as I close my eyes, those horrific and bloody images appear before my eyes.

Shen Jingni was a little scared.

Zhao Zonglan felt as if his heart had been stabbed by a sharp weapon.

His eyes darkened slightly. He strode over, bent his long legs slightly, and squatted down in front of her, looking at her. "Then talk to me, hmm?"

Shen Jingni didn't know what to say.

He shook his head.

Zhao Zonglan cupped her face, forcing her to look at him, not allowing her to cower in her dark, sunless shell.

He gently coaxed, "Baby, just tell me anything, or you can cry."

Upon hearing his words, Shen Jingni completely lost her composure.

With a "waaaah," she burst into tears.

She cried more heartbrokenly and aggrievedly than ever before.

Shen Jingni didn't want to cry, afraid that Zhao Zonglan would think she was a weak coward, and she didn't want them to worry, nor did she want Uncle Chang to blame himself.

But she overestimated her ability to cope.

Tears and sobs released all the pent-up anxiety that had been building up for hours.

She leaned on Zhao Zonglan's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Her tears soaked the man's shirt and fell onto his neck, burning hot.

Reason told Zhao Zonglan that, from a psychological perspective, it was better to cry than not to cry at this moment.

But as he listened to her crying, a deep sense of powerlessness welled up inside him.

It made him feel like he was a piece of trash.

For the first time in his life, Zhao Zonglan took the initiative to reflect on himself.

He seems to have made a terrible mistake.

I shouldn't have brought her to New York.

Whether you understand it or not is not important.

He wanted her to be happy and carefree, not to be crying like this.

He was wrong.

Zhao Zonglan patted her back gently, whispered an apology close to her ear, his voice low and husky: "I'm sorry."

"How about I take you to Las Vegas?"

He was willing to compromise as long as it made her happy.

Shen Jingni's crying subsided a little.

The sobs were intermittent, but she said arrogantly, "I'm going right now!"

She didn't want to stay in New York anymore.

I don't want to stay a moment longer.

Zhao Zonglan raised his hand to wipe away her tears, but these little pearls seemed to keep falling; as soon as he wiped them away, they immediately welled up again.

He patiently replied, "Okay, I'll go now."

While shedding tears, Shen Jingni urged him, "Then hurry up and go."

"Put on your clothes first, it's cold outside."

"oh."

Zhao Zonglan brought over a coat and a down jacket, and asked her in a deep voice, "Which one should you wear?"

Shen Jingni was still there, pouting and crying, shaking her head repeatedly, her voice hoarse and stubborn, "No, none of them look good, I want to wear something pretty."

Zhao Zonglan almost laughed out of anger at her.

If you still have the mood to be picky, then it means the problem isn't serious.

It started raining in New York at 9 p.m.

This once bustling and cold city was now enveloped in the winter rain.

Zhao Zonglan's private jet took off from New York.

For Zhao Zonglan at this moment, it doesn't matter if he makes a fuss or causes a ruckus.

He was willing to give her a sunny day in exchange for her happiness and joy.