Chapter 183 Vulnerability

At this moment, Chen Yun stood not far from the doorway, arms crossed, watching coldly.

A mocking smile played on her lips, her voice light yet piercing like an ice pick: "You think sending him to the hospital is the end of it? This isn't an ordinary drug; even sedatives can't suppress it. Even if he wakes up temporarily, his nervous system will be permanently damaged. He'll be a cripple for the rest of his life."

She slowly turned her head, her eyes filled with calculation and coldness.

She had already laid the trap, waiting for Sheng Tingzhou to completely break down before she would offer him the so-called "antidote," forcing him to sign the agreement that would give him control over the entire Sheng family business.

As long as he remains unconscious, everything is under her control.

Upon hearing this, Song Zhiwei frowned deeply, her eyes blazing with anger.

She stared at Chen Yun, pressing her with each word: "What exactly do you mean? Explain yourself clearly. Who told you to do this? Did you drug her? What are you trying to do?"

Chen Yun chuckled lightly, her sarcasm deepening, but she remained silent.

She slowly turned around, lifted her foot to leave, her posture composed, as if nothing had just happened.

How could Song Zhiwei let her get away like this?

She suddenly stood up, took a step forward, grabbed Chen Yun's wrist with such force that she almost crushed the bones.

Her voice was as cold as ice, yet it trembled uncontrollably: "If you don't explain yourself clearly today, you won't be able to take a single word with you. If you dare to touch Tingzhou, you'll have to pay the price."

At the same time, Mo Huaizhi had calmed down and stepped forward to block the doorway, his tall figure firmly blocking the way.

His eyes were cold and his tone was menacing, carrying an undeniable sense of oppression: "Chen Yun, you better think this through. If Tingzhou really gets into trouble, even if he only suffers minor injuries, do you and your Chen family really think you can get away unscathed? You're not new to knowing about the Sheng family's methods."

Chen Yun was trapped on the spot, her gaze sweeping between the two men, her eyes surging with hatred.

She stared intently at Mo Huaizhi, her teeth clenched—if he hadn't suddenly appeared and disrupted her plans, she would never have let Song Zhiwei barge in.

She had been planning for three whole months, rehearsing every detail repeatedly, and was just one step away from completion.

But now, the cooked duck has flown away, all because of these two troublesome people in front of us!

Her chest heaved violently, and her fingernails almost dug into her palms.

After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, her voice low and hoarse, filled with resentment: "If I tell you, can you guarantee that Sheng Tingzhou... won't retaliate against me?"

Without hesitation, Song Zhiwei stepped forward, standing at the very front, looking directly into Chen Yun's eyes with unwavering determination: "I can guarantee it. As long as you tell the truth, I swear in the name of the Song family that Tingzhou will not harm you."

Mo Huaizhi was slightly taken aback, then suddenly looked up at her, his eyes filled with shock.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately did not speak. He simply took a half step back in silence, his expression complex.

Chen Yun stared at Song Zhiwei for a long time, seemingly trying to determine the truthfulness of her words.

She finally moved closer, whispering softly in Song Zhiwei's ear, as if afraid of being overheard: "It's 'Heart-Eating'."

The moment those two words were uttered, Song Zhiwei's pupils constricted sharply, as if struck by lightning, and she froze instantly.

A buzzing sound filled her mind as all her memories surged back: "Heart-Eating Toxin," an extremely rare neurotoxin that, once it takes effect, causes unbearable pain and has no cure. The only way to slow its progression is to dilute the toxin with the blood of a genetically matched individual.

After finishing her sentence, Chen Yun didn't turn around, abruptly pulled her wrist away, and strode away.

The high heels clicked on the floor with a crisp, cold echo, as if announcing some irreversible consequence.

Mo Huaizhi stood there, his expression solemn.

He heard those two words too, and his face instantly darkened.

He looked at Song Zhiwei, his voice low and suppressed: "Zhiwei, do you really want to... use your blood to save him? Once that medicine is administered with blood pressure, you will become weak, and it might even... damage your very foundation."

Song Zhiwei didn't look at him, but slowly walked back to Sheng Tingzhou's side, squatted down, and gently helped his trembling body up.

Her voice was calm, yet carried an unwavering determination: "Brother Huaizhi, now is not the time to talk about this. Can you help me get him to bed? He can't hold on much longer; we have to start right away."

Mo Huaizhi looked at her pale yet resolute profile, and his throat tightened.

He didn't try to persuade her anymore, but sighed heavily, stepped forward, and together with her, struggled to lift Sheng Tingzhou off the ground.

But just as he was about to make a move, the face of another person suddenly appeared in his mind—Zhou Yuze.

The man who always stood behind Song Zhiwei, silently giving his all, yet was never truly noticed by her.

His heart sank, as if he had a premonition that some irreversible tragedy was quietly approaching.

But seeing Sheng Tingzhou's expression, he still nodded.

His gaze was filled with restraint and exhaustion, fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and his brow was furrowed, as if he was trying his best to suppress some unspeakable pain.

His breathing was somewhat rapid, his chest rose and fell slightly, and he leaned back in his chair, appearing weak yet stubborn.

Even so, he did not utter a groan, but silently endured it.

This scene might not seem special to others, but Song Zhiwei knew that this was the limit of his endurance.

After everyone left, Song Zhiwei took a clean towel and gently wiped the sweat from Sheng Tingzhou's face: "Are you feeling particularly uncomfortable?"

Her fingertips were slightly cool, and her movements were extremely gentle, as if she were afraid of hurting him.

When the towel touched his temple, he trembled slightly, but did not pull away.

Looking at his pale face and chapped lips, her heart ached.

This discomfort comes not only from the body—but more from the inner repression and struggle.

She knew what he was enduring, and she knew he was unwilling to ask for help, but it was precisely because she understood that she felt even more sorry for him.

Sheng Tingzhou opened his eyes, stared at her, his voice hoarse as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper: "If you don't want to... you don't really need to..."

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from deep in his throat, so hoarse that it was almost incoherent.

He couldn't continue, but his gaze never left her face.

Those deep eyes held a multitude of emotions: expectation, probing, and a hint of vulnerability stemming from uncertainty.

He wanted to push her away, to get her out of the chaos, but his body honestly craved her closeness.

Before he could finish speaking, Song Zhiwei lowered her head and kissed his lips.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Her lips were soft yet firm, carrying a soothing power, as she gently covered his parched lips.

There was no harshness, only gentle responses and silent promises.

Sheng Tingzhou's body stiffened for a moment, then he slowly relaxed and closed his eyes.

That kiss was like a timely rain after a long drought, quietly extinguishing the anxiety and unease churning in his heart.

-

That evening, as the banquet was in full swing, Old Master Chen patted Sheng Zhengfeng on the shoulder with a smile: "Once Xiaoyun and Tingzhou return, I will announce the engagement between our two families in front of everyone."

The banquet hall was brightly lit, with crystal chandeliers casting dazzling light. Guests clinked glasses and chatted, their laughter echoing throughout the hall.

The melodious music echoed in the air, creating a festive and peaceful atmosphere.