Chapter 157 The Last Seven Days
Shen Shuangmiao clutched her stomach, shook her head, and sat down.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me."
Zhu Jin pursed his lips, steadily placed the water glass into her hand, straightened up, and returned to his original position.
“Fu Xuan is capable and ambitious. He only agreed to break up with you on a whim.”
Zhu Jin sat back down on the sofa, his tone regaining its previous calmness, "You can rest assured that the studio is in his hands."
Whether I'm at ease or not is not important!
Shen Shuangmiao gripped the lukewarm water glass tightly, her fingertips icy cold. "The important thing is you! Why can't you..."
"There's an industry summit next week, and the organizers sent me an invitation."
Zhu Jin interrupted her, abruptly changing the subject.
He took out an exquisite invitation from the side and said, "Come with me. It will be good for the future direction of the studio to learn more about the forefront of the industry."
He was making arrangements and considering her future.
Shen Shuangmiao looked at the invitation and found it irritating.
She lowered her head, looking at the slightly swaying water in the glass, and could no longer utter a word.
He was right in front of her, within reach.
She could see him, and feel his subtle care, but she could never touch his heart, nor change his goals and thoughts.
Shen Shuangmiao took a deep breath.
"I'm not feeling well and I don't want to go. You go by yourself. I'm going to eat first."
Zhu Jin nodded: "Eat more."
Shen Shuangmiao turned around and went straight to the restaurant.
Zhu Jin did not go that evening.
He turned down unnecessary social engagements and spent almost all his time at home.
For the next two days, he accompanied Shen Shuangmiao to every meal and reminded her to replenish her nutrition on time.
While Shen Shuangmiao took a nap, Zhu Jin would sit on the sofa in the room, quietly working on some documents, or just watching her with gentle eyes.
But he never mentioned euthanasia, nor did he ever mention his children again.
Shen Shuangmiao seemed to be cooperating with him in a play.
She accepted his care, ate the nutritious meals he instructed the kitchen to prepare, and silently drank the water he handed her.
She no longer tried to attack Zhu Jin with harsh words, as it was useless; Zhu Jin would only avoid her with a gentler and more cruel approach.
Between them, only a tacit understanding remained.
Two days later, Shen Shuangmiao received an email from Fu Xuan.
The email attachment contained a cooperation agreement.
Zhu's Group's artificial intelligence laboratory exclusively licenses its technology to Shen Shuangmiao's studio.
Shen Shuangmiao was stunned.
She opened the attachment and carefully read the terms and conditions.
The more she looked, the more her heart sank.
Zhu Jin granted her studio exclusive rights to the most core, undisclosed, and undisclosed property under the Zhu Group.
This means that once the agreement takes effect, her studio will instantly possess a technological advantage that is unmatched in the industry.
This is not a normal business collaboration at all; Zhu Jin is using the company he controls to unilaterally provide her with a large financial injection.
She sat in front of the computer, motionless for a long time.
The light from the screen reflected on her face, making her appear deathly pale.
She hated this feeling.
She disliked Zhu Jin's self-righteous attempt to offer her help.
It didn't represent any benefit, but rather a reminder that her days of escaping were pointless.
Zhu Jin's farewell was something that couldn't be avoided by running away.
He was not only arranging her life, but also paving a way for her to continue running the studio well even without him.
Just then, the study door was gently pushed open.
Zhu Jin walked in carrying a plate of sliced fruit.
He saw Shen Shuangmiao sitting in front of the computer, her face pale, her gaze fixed on the screen.
Zhu Jin paused for a moment.
"What are you looking at?"
He walked over, placed the fruit on a corner of the desk, and pretended not to have seen the agreement.
Shen Shuangmiao neither turned around nor answered.
She gripped the mouse so tightly that her nails almost dug into it.
Zhu Jin's gaze swept across the computer screen. After a moment of silence, he walked to her side and reached out to close the laptop.
"Don't turn it off."
Shen Shuang Miao spoke up to stop her.
Zhu Jin's hand froze in mid-air.
Shen Shuangmiao finally raised her head, looked at him, and questioned, "What is this? Zhu Jin, tell me what this is?"
Zhu Jin met her gaze, his eyes unfathomable.
He slowly lowered his hand, his tone calm: "It's just a technical collaboration. Their algorithm is well-suited to your design process and can improve efficiency."
"Technology cooperation? Exclusive licensing or free of charge?"
Shen Shuangmiao stood up. "Zhu Jin, do you take me for a fool? The technology in Zhu's core laboratory is something countless companies dream of, and you're just going to give it away to a small studio like that?"
She became agitated, her chest heaving violently.
Zhu Jin frowned slightly as he looked at her excited expression.
I thought you would be happy.
He didn't change the subject: "Why are you so angry?"
Shen Shuangmiao gasped for breath: "What do you think, Zhu Jin? There's only one week left, right? Seven days left, and you're already presumptuously planning a way out for me?"
Zhu Jin pursed his lips and didn't say anything, just watched her quietly and let her vent.
"Why did you do this? Using your money, your resources, and everything you think is good to pile up in front of me?"
"Do you think this will make up for it, allowing you to die without any regrets?"
Shen Shuangmiao's voice was choked with sobs, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Say something! Tell me, did you ask me if I wanted to accept this arrangement?"
Zhu Jin's Adam's apple bobbed, and his hands hanging at his sides tightened slightly.
He looked at Shen Shuangmiao's red-rimmed eyes, and his own emotions flickered.
But in the end, Zhu Jin still revealed a faint smile.
"This is beneficial to the development of the studio."
He downplayed the issue, saying, "Fu Xuan is capable, and with this technology, the studio will soon be able to gain a foothold in the industry. Even without me, no one will be able to easily shake the foundation of the studio."
"Foundation?"
Shen Shuangmiao exclaimed as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, "You've really gone too far, Zhu Jin, you've gone too far!"
She walked around the desk and stood in front of Zhu Jin.
"Zhu Jin, I don't want your arrangements, I don't want your compensation, I just want you to live, just want you to survive, okay?"
For the first time, Shen Shuangmiao showed a helpless expression, grabbing Zhu Jin's arm and tightening her grip with her fingertips.
Zhu Jin's body stiffened instantly.
He could feel the trembling and warmth of Shen Shuangmiao's fingertips. This was the woman he had once been unable to have, a woman who caused him pain, but now he had to push her away.
Zhu Jin closed his eyes and broke free from Shen Shuangmiao's grasp.
"The agreement has been reviewed by the Ministry of Justice and there are no problems."
He turned around, his back to Shen Shuangmiao, his voice completely calm, "The agreement is fine, it's already going through the signing process."
After saying that, Zhu Jin left the study without lingering, leaving Shen Shuangmiao standing there frozen.
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