Chapter 224 Mother's Hidden Move
Evening at No. 1 Courtyard.
The kitchen was filled with the sounds of Wang Ma bustling about, along with the mouthwatering aroma of food.
Su Wantang sat on the sofa in the main room, holding a cup of warm spiritual spring water in her hands, but her eyes kept glancing towards the door.
She had changed out of her travel-worn clothes and put on a soft, moon-white casual dress. Her long hair was loosely tied up, revealing a section of her fair and slender neck.
Returning from the Northwest, she looked utterly exhausted, but her peach blossom eyes held a deeper light than ever before.
When Aunt Wang brought out a plate of freshly stir-fried vegetables, she saw the girl's eager expression and couldn't help but chuckle and tease her:
"Miss, are you getting impatient? The young master should be back by now. The old master is having a meeting, which will take some time."
Su Wantang came to her senses, her cheeks slightly flushed, but she denied it, saying, "I didn't, I just sat in the car for too long and my bones are stiff."
As soon as she finished speaking, the familiar sound of military boots pounding on the ground came from outside the courtyard gate. The sound was steady and powerful, and each step felt like it was treading on her heart.
Lu Jingyan appeared at the door. He took off his military cap, revealing a face with sharp features. The conversation just now had left him looking tired, but the moment his deep eyes saw Su Wantang, all the coldness melted away.
"I'm back."
"Yes, I'm back." Su Wantang stood up, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.
Aunt Wang cheerfully brought the last bowl of soup to the table. "Come on, everyone, come and eat. The food is freshly made and still warm!"
At the dinner table, the two of them didn't say much, but there was an unspoken understanding between them.
Su Wantang placed a piece of braised pork on his plate, and Lu Jingyan ate it naturally. He then served her a bowl of soup, which she obediently drank as well.
Watching from the side, Wang Ma felt that the young couple looked even more affectionate than those clingy newlyweds.
After the meal, Wang Ma cleared away the dishes and tactfully left, giving them some space.
Su Wantang pushed the donation list she had taken from the Begonia Space, along with the deciphered note, in front of Lu Jingyan.
"Take a look at this."
Lu Jingyan picked up the list and glanced at it briefly before his expression turned serious. When he saw the note that read, "Dean 'Benjamin' is trustworthy, and his deputy 'Anderson' has been infiltrated," even he couldn't help but let his pupils shrink slightly.
The study was quiet. After a long while, he slowly exhaled and looked at Su Wantang with an unprecedented mix of emotions: shock, admiration, and, more than anything, a deep fear of his mother-in-law, Bai Xiuzhu, whom he had never met.
“Our mother-in-law…” Lu Jingyan’s voice was low, “Her scheme is deeper than any of ours could have imagined.”
He wasn't asking a question; he was stating a fact.
The ability to detect personnel problems within a Hong Kong Island clinic more than a decade ago and accurately identify friend from foe is beyond the scope of a simple business investigation.
This suggests that Bai Xiuzhu may have already clashed with "Eagle's Nest" to some extent at that time, and may even have begun to actively investigate and try to place her own pawns.
“She must have foreseen this long ago.” Su Wantang’s voice was soft, but carried a cold certainty. “She foresaw that one day, the Su family, or rather, me, would face a threat from the ‘Eagle’s Nest.’ So what she left behind was not just wealth, but also these… trump cards for survival.”
Lu Jingyan picked up the telegram that read "Sacred Heart Clinic" and placed it next to Bai Xiuzhu's note.
Two seemingly unrelated clues suddenly aligned perfectly at this moment.
“‘Butler’.” Lu Jingyan’s fingertip landed on the name “Anderson”. “If I’m not mistaken, Ma Weiguo’s superior in Hong Kong Island, the person codenamed ‘Butler’, is Anderson, the vice president of Sacred Heart Clinic.”
Su Wantang nodded.
The Eagle's Nest operates meticulously, and it makes perfect sense that a key figure labeled "infiltrated," codenamed "The Steward," is responsible for managing a vital smuggling and intelligence network.
“Then, Jingyue…” Su Wantang’s voice unconsciously softened when she said the name, “She is very likely being hidden in the Sacred Heart Clinic.”
Lu Jingyan's breath hitched, and the air pressure around him instantly dropped.
Su Wantang continued her calm analysis: "Judging from the log, Jingyue is marked as a 'perfect container,' which is of extremely high research value to them. They will never give up such an 'experimental subject' easily."
"Placing it in our core location and using the identity of a 'patient' to conceal our true intentions is the best option. There, we have professional medical equipment and Anderson, as our 'housekeeper,' personally overseeing the operation, so it's practically foolproof."
A terrifying yet most logical deduction unfolded before the two of them.
Lu Jingyan pursed his lips tightly and remained silent, but Su Wantang could feel the chilling killing intent emanating from him that seemed capable of tearing everything apart.
His sister, who had been missing for ten years, was likely used as a guinea pig and imprisoned in the enemy's lair.
Just then, there was a knock on the study door, the knocking was somewhat urgent.
"Come in." Lu Jingyan's voice was icy cold.
Qin Zheng strode in, his expression serious. He held a file folder in his hand and handed it directly to Su Wantang: "Miss, this is urgent intelligence sent by Elder Chen."
Su Wantang took it and opened the document bag.
There was only a thin piece of paper inside.
The contents of the paper were simple; they were the latest messages sent back by an informant planted by the military on Hong Kong Island.
—The Huo family has recently been in close contact with a German genetics expert named Friedrich Schmidt.
Su Wantang's gaze lingered on the surname "Schmidt".
She quickly looked down.
At the end of the intelligence report, there was a note requesting urgent updates.
—It has been found that Friedrich Schmidt is the older brother of Hans Schmidt, the famous German mechanical engineer.
Hans Schmidt!
That German man from Shanghai, whom she traded space-generating medicinal herbs for a top-of-the-line lithography machine!
The German who, after the transaction was completed, solemnly reminded her in broken Chinese to be careful of "the withered crabapple blossoms"!
At the time, she thought Hans was just being kind, reminding her of the dangers in the business world.
Looking back now, that seemingly random statement was definitely not a business reminder at all!
"Haitang" is the symbol of her mother, Bai Xiuzhu, and also the name of the business empire she built.
"The withered crabapple blossoms"—this was clearly a warning to her that danger was approaching, and that danger was likely related to her mother's past!
Hans's brother, a genetics expert, is now entangled with the Huo family again...
"Eagle's Nest," the Huo family, gene experts, Project Luna, younger sister Lu Jingyue, the death of mother Bai Xiuzhu...
All the fragmented, seemingly unrelated clues were strangely connected by an invisible thread after the name "Schmidt" appeared!
Su Wantang felt a chill rush from her tailbone straight to the top of her head.
It turns out she had been being watched all along.
From the moment she began to emerge, took over her mother's business empire, and launched "Haitang Technology," she had already entered the "Eagle's Nest's" field of vision.
Hans Schmidt's warning was essentially an ultimatum to her, given out of consideration for his brother Friedrich!
Su Wantang gripped the paper tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
Lu Jingyan noticed her unusual behavior and reached out to place his hand on the back of hers. His broad, warm palm carried an undeniable soothing power.
"What's wrong?"
Su Wantang took a deep breath and briefly recounted the story of Hans Schmidt.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jingyan's eyes turned completely cold.
“What a ‘Eagle’s Nest’.” He squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, his voice filled with barely suppressed killing intent.
At this moment, the two lines completely intersected.
Hong Kong Island is no longer a choice, but a battlefield that must be conquered.
It's late at night.
The light in the study was still on.
All the clues were laid out on the table, and a huge web had clearly emerged.
Lu Jingyan looked at Su Wantang, who was reading documents under the lamp beside him. Her profile was beautiful, and her long eyelashes cast a light shadow under her eyelids, making her look quiet and harmless.
But this seemingly delicate woman possesses a heart harder than steel and wisdom capable of stirring up storms.
He suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Su Wantang's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, leaning against his firm chest and listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat.
“I’ll arrange things in Hong Kong.” Lu Jingyan rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice low. “You don’t need to go.”
Su Wantang remained silent.
“That place is a den of dragons and tigers. The Huo family has been operating there for decades, and their influence is deeply entrenched.” Lu Jingyan tightened his grip on her arm. “I can’t let you take that risk.”
Su Wantang raised her head in his arms, her clear, peach-blossom eyes fixed on him.
“Lu Jingyan,” she called him by his full name.
"Jingyue is your sister, and Bai Xiuzhu is my mother."
"We will fight this battle together."
Her words carried an undeniable firmness.
Looking at the resolute look in her eyes, Lu Jingyan could only sigh helplessly and indulgently.
He knew he couldn't stop her.
Once this woman makes a decision, nothing can change her mind.
He lowered his head and kissed her lips precisely.
There was no ravaging storm, just a gentle and lingering kiss, carrying a silent promise and comfort.
After a long while, their lips parted.
He pressed his forehead against hers, nose to nose, their breaths mingling.
“Okay,” he said in a hoarse voice, “we’ll go together.”
Together, let's pull their loved ones back from hell.
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