Chapter 93 Jasmine Returns

A rare and pleasant afternoon.

Qu Ge stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the scene outside where everything was reviving.

As winter turns to spring, tender green buds break through the moist soil, and the cherry treetops are dotted with pink and white buds.

Everything seems to be settled.

But she was always worried.

Rong Zhoubai had just finished the video conference and when he came downstairs he saw her looking very worried.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

Qu Ge answered truthfully: "I miss Qiao Xu'an."

"Tsk." Rong Zhoubai curled his lips in mock dissatisfaction, "Are you still obsessed with your ex-boyfriend?"

"I'm wondering, was he the one who rescued Jasmine that day? If so, where are they now? I have a feeling this matter isn't over yet. With Jasmine and Qiao Xian's personalities, they definitely won't let this go."

"I've actually been having people investigate what you're talking about these past few days. It seems Jasmine hasn't returned to Canada yet. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so completely deprived of information."

"What do you think they will do next?"

"I can't say for sure. Jasmine is crazy, she can do anything."

Rong Zhubai spread his hands and a helpless smile appeared on his lips.

Now, they are in the light and Jasmine is in the dark.

You can only respond to each move as it comes.

The worry on Qu Ge's brow deepened a little.

At this moment, Rong Zhoubai changed the subject: "By the way, you interrupted me and I almost forgot something important."

"What's up?"

"Qin Shuzhi just called. Li Siqi is awake."

"Siqi is awake? Really?!"

Hearing this, Qu Ge was so excited that he almost jumped up.

This was probably the best news she had heard in a while.

Unable to conceal her joy, she anxiously asked, "How is she doing now? Can I go to Europe to see her? Why hasn't she called me..."

"Don't worry." Rong Zhoubai gently stroked her hair and answered them one by one. "She just woke up not long ago and is still in the hospital for observation. Jasmine and Qiao Xuan are missing right now, and I'm worried about you going to Europe alone. I've already talked to Qin Shuzhi. Once Li Siqi's condition stabilizes, we'll transfer her to a nursing home in Canada. Although she's awake now, she's not very mobile yet, so we had to ask Qin Shuzhi to call us to let us know she's safe."

"Okay, okay... As long as she wakes up, as long as she's okay."

The good news came so suddenly that Qu Ge's eyes turned red unconsciously and his tongue seemed to be tied.

Rong Zhoubai gently gathered her scattered hair and tucked it behind her ears.

"Why are you crying? Your face is all red." He said as he wiped away her tears with his fingertips.

The more Qu Ge touched his warm fingers, the more out of control his emotions became.

She suddenly staggered, as if all the muscles and bones in her body were pulled out, and she fell heavily into his arms.

The sobs that had been pent up for too long burst out from his throat, and the hot tears instantly soaked the fabric of his chest.

She no longer suppressed herself and burst into tears, crying until she was short of breath and retching, as if she wanted to vomit out all the grievances she had swallowed over the years...

…

Nine o'clock in the morning.

White Group, top floor conference room.

Both sides of the long table were filled with executives from the R&D department, and an eerie silence hung in the air.

This was just an ordinary routine meeting.

But five minutes ago, Leo suddenly proposed to take over the research of the XR-13 project.

This project has always been personally managed by Jasmine.

Jasmine regards it as the top priority of all R&D projects of the White Group.

But now, Rong Zhoubai has put it aside.

Leo has coveted this project for a long time.

"Lucas, since you have no interest in developing the XR-13, why not leave this project to me? I promise, I will..."

"impossible."

Before Leo could finish his words, he was interrupted by Rong Zhubai's cold voice.

Rong Zhoubai waved his hand, and a curve chart immediately appeared on the projector screen.

This is the data report of the XR-13 project.

"I've discussed this project with Dr. Chen." He looked at the man sitting at the end of the table. "The research team has concluded that, given current technological conditions, the XR-13 simply cannot achieve the desired results. Is that correct, Dr. Chen?"

"Yes." Dr. Chen, the R&D director, wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Based on the existing data, although the drug has a short-term cell activation effect, it will cause uncontrollable gene mutations after 72 hours..."

"Our previous experimental subjects...all suffered varying degrees of organic damage. You can take a look at the report."

The assistant will distribute the printed report to each participant.

In the conference room, there was a barely audible gasp.

The documents showed the subjects' limbs twisted and their skin covered in blood vessels, which was shocking...

These are the "achievements" left behind when Jasmine was in charge of the project!

“Then improve the formula!”

Leo frowned, obviously not understanding the seriousness of the matter.

He said firmly: "All research requires countless trials and errors. I don't understand what's wrong with that?!"

"Trial and error?"

Rong Zhoubai repeated the word slowly.

He sneered and asked someone to enlarge a photo on the screen.

In the photo, a young girl's skin, which should be smooth, is covered with scaly keratinized growths.

"This is Subject No. 64, a 22-year-old college student! What did your job ad say? Short-term part-time job, high pay?"

"So, so what? Scientific progress always comes at a price!"

Leo turned his head away from the photos, and his tone clearly lacked some confidence.

Rong Zhoubai's eyes flashed with sternness: "Using living people for experiments is not science, it's murder!"

"In short, I declare that all human experiments will cease immediately! Project XR-13 is suspended indefinitely!"

Every word is like a sword drawn from its sheath.

There was an instant commotion in the conference room.

Leo stood up suddenly and said anxiously: "You want to stop it? Do you know how much money has been invested in this project? Do you know how many investors are waiting for the results?!"

"Of course I know." Rong Zhoubai flipped open the folder. "Over the past three years, over 10 billion US dollars. More than half of that money went to the equipment company you control! Originally, you volunteered to purchase the equipment for Jasmine, but the price you quoted was more than four times the market price! How do you explain this?!"

“I, I…”

Leo's face turned pale in an instant.

Rong Zhoubai didn't wait for him to refute and directly made a conclusion: "From today on, the biotechnology department will be reorganized and all experimental projects will be reviewed again!"

The conference room was dead silent.

The corners of Leo's mouth twitched, and the expression on his face gradually became hideous and distorted.

He supported himself on the table and slowly stood up: "Lucas, your mother is from Jiangzhou, right? When she was alive, did she teach you an old saying -"

"Leave a way out for yourself!"

Before he could finish his words, Leo slammed the door and walked out.

The door of the conference room slammed shut, and everyone looked at each other, no one dared to speak.

Rong Zhubai's face was gloomy.

He called his assistant and whispered in his ear, "Have someone keep an eye on Leo and see who he's been in contact with recently. Also, send more people to Hanshan Villa to ensure Miss Zhi's safety."

"clear!"

…

In the next few days, Leo used illness as an excuse to take leave from the company.

What he said at the meeting that day always made Rong Zhoubai feel uneasy.

After finishing his work every day, Rong Zhoubai would immediately rush back to Hanshan Villa.

He was worried about Qu Ge's safety.

Even though a large number of people had been arranged to guard the annex, he still felt at ease only when he was with her in person.

The room was quiet.

Qu Ge sat alone in the room reading a book.

Seeing Rong Zhubai coming back, she picked up an invitation letter from the table and handed it to him.

"Someone from the manor sent it this afternoon."

After Jasmine disappeared, Leo's family is the only one living in White Manor.

The invitation had a gold-rimmed edge, and the handwriting was so neat it was almost deliberate—"Tonight at 7 o'clock, a special family dinner to make amends."

"apologize?"

Rong Zhoubai chuckled and threw the invitation on the table.

He knew his second uncle too well.

Leo has always been petty and has a heart smaller than a fingernail.

How could he take the initiative to hold a banquet to apologize to a junior like him?

Qu Ge also guessed that this was definitely not just an ordinary family dinner.

"What on earth does he want to do?"

"It doesn't matter. Since he wants to play, then play with him."

A hint of amusement crossed Rong Zhoubai's lips.

Seven o'clock in the evening.

Rong Zhubai and Qu Ge arrived at White Manor on time.

The silverware on the long table was shining and the candlelight was flickering.

Surprisingly, in addition to the two of them, He Qing, Luo En and others were also invited by Leo.

However, there was no sign of his two sons.

"Are my two cousins ​​late?" Rong Zhubai looked around and asked casually.

Leo smiled widely, personally pouring wine for everyone, and replied, "They just happened to be busy, so they didn't come."

"What could be more important than a family dinner?"

Ron frowned.

He has always disliked Leo, a fat-headed guy, and his attitude towards him is very cold.

A hint of displeasure flashed across Leo's eyes, but he quickly subsided.

He raised his glass, and the red wine swayed in the goblet, reflecting his deliberately forced smile.

"I called everyone here today to apologize to Lucas for what happened last time. After all, we're all family. Family harmony is more important than anything else, what do you think?"

"Family harmony? I'm not used to hearing that from my second uncle."

Rong Zhubai didn't touch the wine glass, but gently circulated his fingertips along the rim of the glass.

Beside him, Qu Ge also stared at Leo vigilantly, not even touching the glass of wine.

Leo's smile froze for a moment: "Lucas, if your father were still alive, I don't know how heartbroken he would be to see us all in such a mess!"

"Uncle, if you have something to say, just say it directly. Otherwise, I really don't have the patience to play house with you."

Rong Zhoubai ruthlessly tore through Leo's hypocritical mask.

The air suddenly froze.

Before Leo could speak again, the door of the restaurant was suddenly pushed open.

The familiar sound of high heels hitting the ground sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Everyone turned around at once——

Jasmine was standing at the door, her lips red as blood and her eyes cold.

"Long time no see, everyone!"