Chapter 25 So... can we kiss for a lifetime?
Zhou Yingchen regained consciousness several hours later.
The pungent smell of disinfectant filled his nostrils.
I have a dull, aching pain in my lower abdomen and a burning sensation in my throat.
Zhou Yingchen struggled to open his eyes, and Tang Mingzhen, who was standing beside him, immediately rushed over nervously.
"How are you, Ying Chen?"
Tang Mingzhen, tears streaming down her face with worry and fear, said, "Look at you two brothers, neither of you eats properly, you make me worry every day, I..."
Before Tang Mingzhen could finish speaking, Zhou Yingchen, lying on the hospital bed, glanced at Chen Xu standing to the side and said in a hoarse voice, "Mom, you can go out first."
"You child..."
Tang Mingzhen met her eldest son's gaze, which showed no emotional fluctuation. She knew he probably had something to instruct his assistant, and she couldn't control him at all.
Tang Mingzhen could only suppress her anger and say, "Fine, I can't control you guys."
She turned around and stormed out the door.
Once the ward quieted down, Chen Xu, who had been staying by the bedside, leaned over and said, "President Zhou."
Zhou Yingchen closed his eyes, forcibly suppressing the discomfort in his stomach and the dryness in his throat.
When he opened his eyes again, although his eyes were bloodshot, they had regained their usual coldness.
How long was I unconscious?
"It's been almost eight hours."
Chen Xu handed Zhou Yingchen a glass of warm water and used a straw to moisten his throat before quickly reporting, "Acute gastrointestinal bleeding, accompanied by severe dehydration. The doctor has already given emergency treatment, but emphasized that you must rest and cannot..."
Zhou Yingchen raised his hand, interrupting Chen Xu's next words.
Rest and recuperation?
Every second now makes him anxious.
The image of Wen Yu pleading with tears in her eyes before she fell into a coma flashed through Zhou Yingchen's mind, and this was even more unbearable for him than the cramps in his stomach.
"Any new developments?"
Knowing he couldn't dissuade him, Chen Xu could only take out a tablet from his briefcase and cautiously report: "President Chen, we can't find any information about the most suspicious private island. For now, we have no way to make a breakthrough."
Zhou Yingchen's gaze fell on the isolated island surrounded by azure waters on the map.
"What lies behind property rights? Peel it layer by layer until the light comes out."
"It's peeling, but it's very difficult."
Chen Xu reported: "On the surface, it's a shell company, but the controlling shareholder is an arts and culture foundation. The foundation's stated business is to support young artists, with numerous funding sources, and its accounts appear flawless."
"Perfection is the biggest flaw."
Zhou Yingchen's voice was icy: "Continue the investigation."
On the other side,
On the island targeted by Zhou Yingchen, Wen Yu walked out of the villa and stopped under the archway in the back garden.
Seeing that Shen Jinhuai was squatting in front of a patch of freshly turned soil, intently tending to a row of tender green seedlings, he didn't even notice her approaching.
The man casually rolled up the cuffs of his white shirt to his elbows, revealing his sleek forearms, and even his muddy fingers looked exceptionally long and beautiful in the sunlight.
Wen Yu walked over to Shen Jinhuai in a cheerful mood, squatted down next to him, and asked curiously, "What are you doing?"
Shen Jinhuai looked up, and a few strands of black hair fell across his forehead.
Upon seeing Wen Yu, a gentle smile spread across his eyes: "I want to plant a sea of jasmine flowers for you."
The man pointed to a row of newly planted flower seedlings and said, "I remember you said you liked the scent of jasmine."
"Once they all bloom, a gentle breeze will fill the entire courtyard with a faint fragrance, which you can also smell in your studio."
Hearing this, Wen Yu felt a warm and sweet feeling in her heart.
She looked closely at the tender shoots in front of her: "So many, it must take a long time to grow them, right?"
"No rush,"
Shen Jinhuai continued tending to the seedlings gently: "Beautiful things are worth waiting for."
"Then let's do it together."
"After the flower seedlings are planted, will you come back to the studio with me?"
Shen Jinhuai was slightly taken aback, then the smile in his eyes deepened: "Okay."
The two squatted side by side in front of the flower bed.
Shen Jinhuai taught Wen Yu how to loosen the soil and maintain proper plant spacing.
Wen Yu studied very hard, but since it was her first time doing gardening, her movements were inevitably clumsy.
When she tried to straighten the seedling again, she accidentally smeared mud on her cheek without realizing it.
Shen Jinhuai looked at Wen Yu's focused profile, covered in mud, and couldn't help but chuckle.
Then, the man reached out and wiped the dirt off Wen Yu's face with his fingertips.
The smile held a hint of doting affection.
"Xiaoyu has turned into a little kitten."
Wen Yu belatedly touched her face, only to find that she had also smeared mud on the other side.
She smiled shyly, her eyes curving into beautiful crescent moons.
Sunlight danced on the two of them through the gaps in the leaves.
Time moves slowly and peacefully, the earth is fresh and clean.
After the flower seedlings were planted, Shen Jinhuai took Wen Yu's hand and returned to the studio.
But when she opened the door, Wen Yu was stunned.
A brand-new wooden easel with elegant and smooth lines was placed by the window.
On the shelf next to her, a complete set of the latest paints she had recently mentioned wanting to try were neatly displayed.
"This is?"
Wen Yu turned around in surprise, only to meet Shen Jinhuai's deep, smiling gaze as he leaned against the door frame.
Seeing Wen Yu looking at him, the man smiled and approached: "Last time I heard you mention wanting to try this kind of paint, I asked someone to find some good quality ones."
Shen Jinhuai led Wen Yu by the hand to the paint.
He casually picked up a dish of blue pigment and continued, "I heard these pigments are made from ground natural minerals, resulting in more perfect color application and longer-lasting colors."
Wen Yu stroked the surface of the paint box with emotion, her fingertips tracing the labels that indicated the color names, feeling incredibly warm inside.
Before she had even finished looking at all the paints, Wen Yu looked at Shen Jinhuai with burning eyes: "Jinhuai, shall I paint a portrait of you?"
"Is this... a thank-you gift?"
Shen Jinhuai was surprised that Wen Yu would bring this up. He was slightly taken aback, then a smile spread across his eyes: "It's my honor."
So Shen Jinhuai sat down on the rattan chair by the window as Wen Yu instructed.
The afternoon sunlight streamed in, giving it a soft, rough edge.
Wen Yu spread out the drawing paper, carefully mixed the colors, and occasionally looked up at the man in front of her.
For a moment, the studio was very quiet, with only the faint sound of waves coming from outside.
When Wen Yu looked up again, she found that Shen Jinhuai had been watching her the whole time.
The man's gaze was so gentle that it made her heart skip a beat.
"What's wrong?"
Wen Yu asked softly, her paintbrush hovering in mid-air.
"Just thinking,"
Shen Jinhuai said in a low voice, "It's a very happy thing to be watched by you like this."
Upon hearing this, Wen Yu's face flushed.
She quickly lowered her head and continued painting, but her brushstrokes became even softer than before.
But when she drew Shen Jinhuai's eyes, she couldn't help but look up again.
Wen Yu wanted to capture the glint in the man's deep eyes.
But when their eyes met, Wen Yu looked down at the painting in her hand, and her tone unconsciously became disappointed.
"what to do?"
Wen Yu said in a dejected whisper, "I feel like... I just can't capture the tenderness in your eyes."
Upon hearing this, Shen Jinhuai stood up, went to Wen Yu's side, and bent down to look at the portrait on the drawing paper.
In the painting, he sits in the interplay of light and shadow, with clear features and a gentle temperament. Although the details are not yet perfect, the spirit of the painting is already beginning to emerge, much better than he had imagined.
"No rush, take your time drawing."
Shen Jinhuai leaned down and whispered in Wen Yu's ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive ear: "It would be best if you could paint me for a lifetime. That way, there will always be a day when you can paint me just like me."
Wen Yu was taken aback, raised her head, and looked at Shen Jinhuai, who was standing close by.
The man's figure was backlit, his outline blurred in the halo of light, but his eyes, fixed on her, were bright and piercing.
A deep emotion, both familiar and unfamiliar, surged within her.
In that instant, Wen Yu suddenly felt that perhaps beauty does not need to rely entirely on paintbrushes to record or replicate.
Because they are deeply imprinted in her heart.
So Wen Yu put down her paintbrush.
She reached out and wrapped her arms around Shen Jinhuai's neck, then, with a shy yet brave smile on her lips, she leaned forward and gave him a quick, firm kiss on the corner of his lips.
"That……"
Wen Yu asked softly, "Can we kiss for a lifetime?"
Shen Jinhuai was slightly taken aback.
The next second, he tightened his arms, pulling Wen Yu firmly into his embrace.
Wen Yu let out a gasp, but all her voice was silenced by the man's burning kiss.
Shen Jinhuai pried open her teeth and went straight in.
He held her arm tightly, as if afraid that this moment was just his imagination.
Wen Yu was swept away by Shen Jinhuai's sudden enthusiasm, her mind went blank, and she could only passively feel his domineering passion that was different from the past.
She gripped his shirt tightly, her fingertips trembling slightly, unsure whether it was from shyness, nervousness, or being overwhelmed by this surging emotion.
After an unknown amount of time, Shen Jinhuai finally managed to regain a sliver of reason and slowly ended the kiss that had almost suffocated both of them.
His forehead pressed against hers, their breaths mingling, rapid and hot.
Looking into Wen Yu's misty, watery eyes, and then down to her flushed cheeks and slightly swollen, glistening lips, Chen Jinhuai's Adam's apple bobbed violently.
“Xiaoyu…”
The man called Wen Yu's name in a hoarse voice, his voice filled with lingering emotions and deep affection: "You keep your word, we'll kiss for a lifetime."
Wen Yu nodded without hesitation: "Mm."
The next moment, the man's kiss landed again.
That evening, in the study on the first floor,
Shen Jinhuai sat at his desk, looking at the portrait Wen Yu had drawn for him that afternoon. The image of Wen Yu's soft and gentle face floated before his eyes, and his heart softened.
At that moment, the phone screen lit up.
Shen Jinhuai answered the phone, and a report came from the other end: "President Shen, Zhou Yingchen's people are intensifying their investigation into the foundation's background and attempting to infiltrate the island's perimeter security system using hacking techniques. Although they've been thwarted for now, but..."
However, given Zhou Yingchen's strong financial backing and determination, it was only a matter of time before a breakthrough was found.
Shen Jinhuai fell silent.
After a long silence, the man spoke coldly: "Prepare the helicopter. I need to go back to headquarters tomorrow morning."
He needed to personally handle some diversionary tactics to distract Zhou Yingchen and give Wen Yu more time to strengthen herself.
After hanging up the phone, Shen Jinhuai went to Wen Yu's room.
The girl on the bed was fast asleep, her sleeping face serene and beautiful, as if all unease did not exist.
Shen Jinhuai raised his hand, his fingertips gently tracing Wen Yu's cheek, his voice low: "Xiao Yu, you..."
"You won't go with anyone, right?"
The island night was peaceful, with starlight gently spilling onto the sea and onto the two people in the bedroom.
But beneath this tranquility, undercurrents surge and storms rage on.
Wen Yu, immersed in tranquility, was completely unaware of this.
In her sleep, she unconsciously pressed her cheek closer to the man's palm.
·
Unlike Wen Yu, who is now able to sleep peacefully, the lights have been on for several nights in the president's office on the top floor of the Zhou Group's office building, hundreds of kilometers away.
"What did you find?"
Zhou Yingchen pinched his brow wearily, his voice hoarse.
Chen Xu reported: "Regarding that private island, we discovered that one of the foundation's main donors... has an indirect but traceable connection with Mr. Shen Jinhuai of the Shen Group in the neighboring city."
Zhou Yingchen frowned slightly: "Shen Jinhuai?"
He remembered this man.
A year ago, the Zhou family and the Shen family had a deep collaboration on a new energy project with an astonishing investment amount. As the main person in charge of both parties, Zhou Yingchen had dealt with Shen Jinhuai several times.
He was deeply impressed by Shen Jinhuai.
That man, as a partner, was impeccable.
He is professional, efficient, and clear-headed. During negotiations, he adheres to his bottom line while knowing when to make concessions, and he can always come up with win-win solutions. Communication with him is smooth and worry-free.
He always behaves with propriety, possesses a gentle and refined temperament, and exudes a convincing power in his speech. He is mysterious yet has an excellent reputation in the industry and is recognized as a leading figure among the younger generation.
But what if it's a competitor...?
This thought made Zhou Yingchen's eyes turn cold.
A person with such meticulous thinking, such tactful methods, such a powerful background, and such an ability to conceal their true intentions and actions would be the most troublesome and terrifying opponent if they became an enemy.
He can orchestrate plans so flawlessly that you can clearly feel his presence and influence, yet feel as if you're walking in a fog, unable to grasp any real leverage.
If such a person is determined to hide Wen Yu, he certainly has the ability to mobilize vast resources to cover everything up.
Zhou Yingchen's heart sank.
"Only an indirect connection?"
Zhou Yingchen tapped his fingertips on the table repeatedly: "As far as I know, the Shen family's main business is far removed from medicine and maritime transportation. Can the flow of funds directly prove that he is the island owner?"
"Not at the moment."
Chen Xu answered truthfully: "All the clues we have found so far are carefully designed by the other side, like bait deliberately left behind. Only a small number of clues were unexpected and were forcibly broken through by us."
At this point, Chen Xu paused for a moment, then cautiously added, "Currently, the island's security system remains extremely tight, and we have tried various methods without success."
Upon hearing the above report, Zhou Yingchen's pale face remained expressionless.
His intuition told him that Shen Jinhuai was involved in this matter, and that the private island was very likely the key.
But years of experience in the business world have taught him that making hasty judgments based solely on intuition and indirect connections is fatal.
The opponent was well aware of this and deliberately created a great deal of confusion, so much so that even with the Zhou family's strength, they had searched for Wen Yu for a year without any results.
There are very few people in this world who can do that.
So, could this island be just another smokescreen that would require them to expend a lot of manpower and resources only to end up disappointed?
"I need more direct evidence."
Zhou Yingchen's voice was low: "Continue to investigate all of Chen Jinhuai's itinerary over the past year, his direct or indirect contact records with any personnel at Jianyun Hospital, and the background of all parties associated with that foundation. Dig deep into everything. At the same time, continue to try to infiltrate the island's security."
He will definitely find Wen Yu.
must.
-----------------------
Author's Note: I'd like to recommend my next book: "Goodbye, the Next One Will Be Even Better".
Similar pre-order: *Obsessive Pampering [Forced Acquisition]*
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com