Chapter 16 The First Crack "Who are you?"
Ling Shu and her group returned to the Sheng family manor.
As soon as the car came to a stop, the servants who had been waiting for a long time immediately stepped forward and carefully lifted Sheng Yun Shen out of the car and placed him on a stretcher.
Medical staff followed closely behind, holding various instruments to monitor whether Sheng Yunshen's various physiological indicators were normal.
Sheng Yun Shen's eyes were tightly closed, his handsome face was completely bloodless, as pale as snow.
The doctor was listening to his heart rate with a stethoscope. His gaze drifted down and he noticed a ruby ring on Sheng Yunshen's slender hand. He exclaimed in surprise, "Huh?"
One of the gossipy caregivers responsible for looking after Sheng Yun Shen happened to be standing nearby. Seeing the doctor's reaction, he immediately leaned over excitedly, his voice low but barely concealing his excitement: "How is it? Isn't it beautiful? I already found out that this ring was personally put on President Sheng's finger by Miss Ling!"
The doctor tried hard to stay focused, but the upturned corners of his mouth betrayed his true feelings.
He held it in for a long time, but finally couldn't help it and whispered to the gossipy caregiver, "Really? You put it on yourself?"
The gossipy caregiver nodded vigorously: "Of course it's true! Miss Ling really loves it!"
The doctor couldn't help but click his tongue twice, sincerely commenting, "I'm hooked! I'm hooked!"
To be precise, he had already fallen for her when Ling Shu insisted on taking Sheng Yun Shen out this morning to attend the auction.
No, all the medical staff have already taken it!
It's so sweet!
In response, Sheng Yunshen said: "..."
Eating everything will only harm you.
Take the ring off now!
This time, heaven finally took pity on him. He heard the gossipy caregiver ask worriedly, "Dr. Zhou, can a person in a vegetative state wear a ring? Won't it affect blood circulation? But if we take it off, wouldn't we be betraying Miss Ling's sincere feelings for President Sheng?"
Sheng Yun Shen: "."
He dares to guarantee that there is no sincerity, only lust.
A glimmer of hope had just begun to rise in my heart when the doctor's answer shattered it completely: "No need to take it off! I checked, the ring fits perfectly, it's not tight at all, it's perfect!"
Sheng Yun Shen: "..."
So, does that mean he'll have to keep wearing this ring forever?
On the other side, Ling Shu was directing several servants to take the painting she had photographed off the car.
A maid asked, "Where would Miss Ling like to hang these paintings?"
Ling Shu waved her hand: "No need to hang it, just leave it like this."
The maid asked again, "Miss Ling, do you mean to put these paintings away in the storage room? And not hang them up for the time being?"
Ling Shu shook her head again: "No need to put it away, just leave it in the living room."
Anyway, it'll be sent away in a couple of days.
Maid: "Huh? Oh..."
Although they didn't quite understand, they did as Ling Shu instructed.
Just as the paintings were being moved into Xiaoming Building and piled up, Qin Hong and Butler Wang, who had been rushing all the way, returned.
Qin Hong didn't even have time to drink water before rushing into Xiaoming Building, grabbing Ling Shu's hand and asking impatiently, "Ling Shu, what exactly happened?"
Ling Shu was about to pick up a piece of egg yolk pastry and put it in her mouth when she saw Qin Hong's expression. She stopped, put down the pastry, and asked in surprise, "Madam? You're back so soon?"
Qin Hong nodded hastily and continued to press, "What exactly happened on Li Yin's side?"
Ling Shu blinked and smiled, "President Li, so he really came to the private room to find us?"
She never intended to hide this from the Sheng family, and explained frankly, "He had some things he really wanted, and I bought them at the auction before him. I guessed that once he found out about this, he would likely come to our private room, so I made a point of coming back early."
After a moment's thought, Qin Hong quickly understood what had happened.
She asked, "What is it?"
Ling Shu pointed to several boxes piled up in the corner and said casually, "They're just some paintings."
Qin Hong looked in the direction she pointed, her gaze sweeping over the box, and remained silent for a long time.
Before she could speak, Butler Wang rushed in excitedly from outside, holding his phone in his hand, gesturing wildly with joy: "Madam, President Li has agreed to the meeting! He will come to the Sheng family in person at 11:00 AM tomorrow!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Hong was shocked, her face showing disbelief.
The phone call that I couldn't get through to before was answered so easily.
President Li, whom we had been unable to meet before, actually agreed to pay us a visit in person...
All of this, all of it, was just because of a few... paintings?
Qin Hong turned to look at Ling Shu, her lips moved a few times, but she couldn't say anything.
Gratitude, relief, surprise, joy...
A complex mix of emotions made it even harder for her, who was not good with words, to express her shock and joy.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Qin Hong lowered her shoulders and looked down at her phone screen.
Just as her finger was about to tap the screen, Ling Shu came over first and grabbed Qin Hong's hand.
"Madam, there's no need for the transfer, really, no need!"
Ling Shu had successfully figured out Qin Hong's tactics. She had been on high alert when Qin Hong was silent.
Seeing that Qin Hong was about to take out her phone to transfer money, she immediately stopped her.
"No one bought these paintings. I only spent 500,000. Madam, you really don't need to transfer any more money to me. It's more than enough!"
If it were Ling Shu who had just transmigrated, she probably would never have imagined that she would one day have to earnestly advise others not to transfer money to her.
Qin Hong pursed her lips, her expression resolute: "You actually spent 500,000? That's so much! How will you have enough money to spend?"
Ling Shu insisted, "President Ling just transferred five million to me today, and with the money you and Junjun gave me, it's enough for me to live on for a long time."
Qin Hong frowned: "President Ling is President Ling, and I am me. How can we be the same?"
She grabbed Ling Shu's hand and firmly pulled her to the side, saying as she did so, "I'm going to prove to you that I'm not some cheap mother-in-law!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Hong realized she had let something slip and froze.
Ling Shu was also stunned, a look of confusion on her face: "Huh?"
The term "cheap mother-in-law"...
She did call Qin Hong that, but it was only in her heart; she never called her that to her face.
Why would Qin Hong say that?
Besides, that's not what my mother-in-law meant...
Qin Hong shifted her gaze guiltily to the side, not daring to look Ling Shu in the eye, and forced an explanation: "What I mean is, I heard that some people call their mother-in-law that. I don't like that title. Our Sheng family is not cheap!"
As if the words "not cheap" gave her strength, she shook off Ling Shu's hand and resolutely tapped on the phone screen.
Soon, Ling Shu's phone vibrated.
She closed her eyes helplessly and took out her phone to check.
"Ms. Qin Hong has transferred 2,000,000 yuan to your bank card ending in 8888. The transfer note is: [smile][smile][smile]."
Wow, three consecutive smiling emojis.
It's still as complicated as ever.
Ling Shu hesitated for a moment, then resignedly changed her form of address.
[...This wealthy woman is truly hard to refuse.]
Qin Hong nodded in satisfaction, a victorious smile spreading across her lips.
Yay, she's finally not a cheap mother-in-law anymore!
Seeing that the problem of arranging a meeting with President Li was finally solved, she was in an extremely good mood.
but……
Qin Hong suddenly remembered that she hadn't explained to Ling Shu the Sheng family's demands on Li Yin.
She cleared her throat, solemnly pulled Ling Shu to sit down on the sofa, and said in a steady tone, "Shu, can you give me these paintings so I can talk to Li Yin about the terms?"
Ling Shu blinked, her eyes as clear as water: "What conditions does Madam intend to negotiate with the Li family?"
Qin Hong replied, "I want to use these paintings to exchange for cooperation between the Li family and the Sheng family."
She lowered her eyes, concealing the pain within them. "Ever since Yun Shen's accident, the Sheng family has been in danger. On the surface, everything seems calm, but in reality, undercurrents are already surging within the Beijing social circles."
"At the size of the Sheng family, the most important thing is the outside world's confidence in the family. Once confidence is lost, even a large family like the Sheng family will collapse like a tree with rotten roots."
“In the past, Yun Shen was the source of the Sheng family’s confidence. Now that the Sheng family has lost Yun Shen, if the Li family is willing to lend a hand and help the Sheng family through this initial turmoil, perhaps the Sheng family can survive this calamity.”
Gaining the confidence of others can sometimes be incredibly easy, and at other times, it can be extremely difficult.
Although Ling Shu was not very familiar with the rules of the business world, she understood what Qin Hong meant.
She remained silent, pondering how to tell Qin Hong what was about to happen.
How can I tell my wealthy mother-in-law that in two months, the world will end, and the so-called Sheng family and Li family will no longer matter. Only survival matters?
While she was still hesitating, Qin Hong had already clearly heard Ling Shu's thoughts.
Qin Hong had also considered this question and had already figured out the answer.
She answered firmly, "Xiao Shu, do you know? Shengshi Group has more than 30,000 employees. The Sheng family has grown into more than just a simple business family; it carries the livelihoods and futures of 30,000 people. If the Sheng family collapses, 30,000 people will lose their jobs, and their families will be plunged into hardship."
"Even for their sake, I must do everything I can to help the Sheng family overcome this crisis. Therefore, cooperation with the Li family is urgent, not only for the Sheng family, but also for those who depend on the Sheng family for survival."
Even if the apocalypse comes in two months, we still have to live our lives now.
The Sheng family and the Shengshi Group must survive in order to smoothly pay every salary and bonus, ensuring that every employee has the financial means to support themselves when the end comes.
This is Qin Hong's obsession, and it's why she still doesn't give up seeking help from the Li family even though she knows the end is near.
Ling Shu fell silent.
She had never thought about it from this perspective.
This time, she really was narrow-minded.
Initially, when she bought these paintings at the auction, she simply wanted to give them to Li Yin and form a good relationship with him so that when the apocalypse came, they could support each other and overcome the difficulties together with the base Li Yin had established.
Unexpectedly, by sheer coincidence, the Sheng family needed the help of the Li family, and she happened to be able to assist them.
Isn't that also a kind of positive karma?
As her thoughts raced, Ling Shu made her decision and nodded in agreement: "Alright, Madam, I will follow your arrangements."
-
Sheng Zhujun was a little confused: "Uncle Wang, why are you giving me a dictionary?"
It's so thick, it must be a dictionary.
She never asked for a dictionary.
Butler Wang's expression was grave: "...This isn't a dictionary; it's a chat log we've reconstructed."
When Jian Yicheng came to cause trouble yesterday, Butler Wang secretly arranged for someone to back up his phone data. After a night of repair and hacking, all of Jian Yicheng and Ling Xinyao's chat history has been successfully recovered.
"ha?!"
Sheng Zhujun's eyes widened, her finger trembling as she pointed to the thick "dictionary" that could be used as a murder weapon, incredulously exclaiming, "This is chat history?!"
Goodness, your fingers must have been practically smoking from all that swinging to talk this much!
I knew there was something going on between Jian Yicheng and Ling Xinyao, but I never expected it to be so significant.
Sheng Zhujun was amazed.
A few lines of vulgar and offensive language came into view.
“Aiyao’s Chengcheng: Xinyao, I saw a super beautiful necklace today, it’s a perfect match for you, can I buy it for you?”
"Your Yao Yao: Oh dear, you've spent so much money again, I'm almost embarrassed to accept it."
"Aiyao's Chengcheng: I'm willing to spend any amount of money as long as you like it. Your happiness is more important than anything else."
“Your Yao Yao: You touched me so much, but I feel like things aren’t right between us. I’m so conflicted.”
“Aiyao’s Chengcheng: I will handle everything if there are any conflicts. Just enjoy my love for you.”
“Your Yao Yao: I... I don’t know how to refuse you, but I’m really afraid of hurting others.”
“Aiyao’s Chengcheng: I won’t hurt anyone, believe me.”
Sheng Zhujun: "..."
She remained expressionless and slammed the chat history shut with a loud "snap".
What does it mean to not hurt anyone?
They've successfully damaged her eyes!
My eyes are incredibly painful; I feel like I'd need to read a month's worth of bland, uninspired literature from Jiang Zemin's neck up to recover.
Sheng Zhujun wished she could throw the chat log three meters away immediately.
However, reason stopped her.
She handed it back to Butler Wang with disdain: "...Uncle Wang, keep it safe and don't open it."
It's enough that her eyes suffer alone.
"Um."
Butler Wang nodded steadily, his expression growing even more serious. "Miss, there's something I'm not sure I should say. In Jian Yicheng's account, besides the chat history with Miss Ling, a small amount of chat history with other people has also been recovered. He..."
Butler Wang swallowed hard, his tone becoming increasingly forceful, "He seems to be discussing a plan with someone codenamed 'Boss.' I deduce that this plan is likely aimed at the Sheng family."
"Unfortunately, there isn't much information in the chat logs, so we can't deduce the specific details of the plan..."
He had just received these chat logs and hadn't had a chance to report them to Qin Hong yet.
If Jian Yicheng is really plotting something, then things could get a bit troublesome.
The Sheng family is currently facing hidden crises and cannot withstand further turmoil.
The key point is that Qin Hong will definitely be focused on preparing for her meeting with President Li these next two days, so she probably won't have time to deal with this matter.
Sheng Zhujun pondered for a moment, her eyes revealing determination: "I'll investigate. I'm familiar with Jian Yicheng's work and style of doing things. If he wants to set a trap for the Sheng family, I can probably guess what he'll do."
She is blind, she is unable to judge people, and she is also the one who should try her best to make amends.
No matter what Jian Yicheng plans to do to the Sheng family, she will not let him have his way.
-
The Sheng family was very busy that night.
Sheng Zhujun was busy checking accounts, tables, and documents, reviewing everything Jian Yicheng had handled throughout the year to see if she could find any clues.
Butler Wang, as a powerful support, helped on both sides, keeping him extremely busy and making him arguably the strongest assistant.
Ling Shu was busy inspecting the newly dug vegetable garden.
She hadn't forgotten what her important task was.
After a day of hard work yesterday, the vegetable garden has taken shape and now covers a small hillside.
Ling Shu stood with her hands behind her back, looking around with a sense of accomplishment, as if she could already see the vibrant future of this land.
But that's far from enough.
Now that she has decided to protect the Sheng family, all the stockpiling preparations must be arranged according to the current personnel of the Sheng family.
Including the housekeeper, servants, driver, gardener, etc., the Sheng family currently has more than 30 people. If you include their respective family members, Ling Shu needs to stockpile enough supplies for 100 people within at least two months.
This small vegetable patch is far from enough to meet the vegetable needs of one hundred people.
Fortunately, the Sheng family manor is spacious enough.
Ling Shu looked at the vast grassland and woods beside her.
The Sheng family manor occupies a hilltop and has no shortage of land.
If the entire Xiaominglou area were transformed into a vegetable garden and some greenhouses were set up, it would be able to fully meet the vegetable supply needs of 100 people.
Based on this calculation, we still need to cultivate a few more vegetable plots.
Oh, and we should also prepare the seeds for all kinds of vegetables as soon as possible.
Ling Shu's mind raced. She took out her phone and decided to buy a batch of seeds online first. If there were any in-season seeds, she could plant them in the next two months to see how they would turn out.
Chili peppers, tomatoes, bok choy, potatoes, radishes, green beans, pumpkin...
These are all vegetables that are easy to grow and can be harvested quickly.
Anyway, Ling Shu had a lot of money, so she bought a lot of various vegetable seeds.
After buying the seeds, Ling Shu went back to Xiaoming Building, intending to check the various convenience foods she had stockpiled in the basement.
Just now, Butler Wang told her that the entire batch of goods she ordered through the ordering tablet has arrived.
It's time to pick out which instant noodles and canned goods suit her taste better.
As soon as she reached the basement and turned on the light in the warehouse, Ling Shu was deeply shocked by what she saw.
The storeroom, which had previously been filled with food delivered by Sheng Zhujun, was now half full.
Butler Wang even thoughtfully customized shelves, with all sorts of colorful boxes arranged in categories, just like shopping in a supermarket.
She couldn't have accomplished this on her own.
There's strength in numbers.
Ling Shu walked slowly into the warehouse with her hands behind her back.
Tonight is a perfect time for a late-night snack. Which kind should I choose?
As she walked, Ling Shu's eyes lit up instantly when she saw a certain product category.
It's decided, you're the one!
-
In the ward on the third floor.
Sheng Yun Shen has returned to his hospital bed, surrounded by various testing instruments. The gossipy caregivers are sitting by the window, passionately discussing the latest gossip.
"Have you heard? Mr. Li from the Li family is coming to visit the Sheng family tomorrow!"
"President Li? Old Master Li?"
"No, no, Old Master Li retired a long time ago. The current CEO is his grandson, named Li Yin, who is as young as our CEO Sheng."
"I heard that the Li family and the Gu family don't have much of a relationship and rarely interact. This young CEO Li actually took the initiative to visit us. Could it be that he wants to lend a helping hand to the Sheng family and provide them with timely assistance?"
The Li family, Li Yin?
In the darkness, Sheng Yunshen seemed lost in thought.
The Li family is powerful, but they rarely associate with other families and live a very low-key life in Beijing. Even he had only met Old Master Li a few times, and they could barely be considered nodding acquaintances; he had no real understanding of him.
As for Li Yin, he had never even seen him.
Given the Li family's style of doing things, if the Sheng family gets into trouble, they would likely stand by and do nothing, and would never get involved.
Li Yin's initiative to visit them was already contrary to the Li family's style.
There's definitely something wrong here.
Suddenly, a woman's words echoed in Sheng Yunshen's mind.
When leaving the auction today, Ling Shu seemed to have mentioned the Li family on her own initiative.
Could it be... that all of this is because of Ling Shu?
How many more "surprises" can this woman bring him?
Thinking of Ling Shu, Sheng Yunshen felt a slight tingling sensation on the finger with the ring on it.
His scattered thoughts paused for a moment.
What's wrong with this ring? It's electrified!
Just then, a series of energetic footsteps sounded, and someone arrived at the ward.
Just by listening to the footsteps, Sheng Yun Shen could guess who was coming.
It's true what they say, speak of the devil and he appears.
Hearing the door open, the gossipy caregivers must have seen who it was, and asked curiously, "Oh, Miss Ling, what brings you here?"
Ling Shu's smiling voice rang out: "I've been free, so I came in to sit for a while and grab something to eat."
The gossipy caregivers were very enthusiastic, and the sound of tables and chairs being moved around the room could be heard: "Come, come, Miss Ling, sit here and eat! We'll go out first, so as not to disturb you."
They quickly left the room and "thoughtfully" closed the door behind them.
The room fell silent instantly, with only the beeping of the instruments echoing in the background.
Sheng Yun Shen was extremely wary of this scene; the hairs on his body stood on end.
However, this time, Ling Shu didn't seem to intend to take liberties with him.
She sat down beside him and let out a satisfied sigh.
Ah, delicious food and beautiful women—that's the ultimate indulgence.
Sheng Meiren: "..."
For the past twenty-five years, he has remained calm, composed, and rational, maintaining a polite distance from all women. Even with his so-called fiancée, Ling Xinyao, their only intimate contact was a polite handshake at their engagement banquet.
These past few days, being "teased" by Ling Shu from various angles, Sheng Yun Shen felt like he was about to break down.
However, this disintegration also brought him a unique kind of vitality.
A vibrant life completely different from the previous twenty-five years.
Although Sheng Yun Shen didn't want to admit it, he really... didn't dislike such vibrancy.
Anyway...
etc!
A strange smell suddenly wafted through the air, instantly filling his nostrils.
It felt like being violently struck by a mixture of sour and spicy odors, as if stepping into a kitchen filled with spoiled food. The terrifying smell of rotten ingredients and strange spices fermenting in the dark corners surged up, stimulating and eerie, hitting the very top of my head.
This was the first time Sheng Yun Shen had ever experienced such a stimulating flavor.
If he weren't completely numb, he would have jumped up by now.
What is this?!
His breakdown was a true reflection of what happened in prison.
Ling Shu happened to have her back to the monitoring screen and didn't notice the abnormal spike in her heart rate.
Outside the ward, the gossipy caregivers noticed the change in heart rate.
"Heart rate, heart rate has increased again!"
Caregiver A looked worried: "What happened? Should we go in and check? Everything was normal when we checked just now!"
Caregiver B smacked him on the head in exasperation: "What's wrong with you? Don't you understand yet? Mr. Sheng's heart rate is high because he's happy to know that Miss Ling is with him!"
He added with dramatic emphasis, "Think about the first time President Sheng met Miss Ling!"
Didn't my heart rate spike at that time too?
What is this called?
This is what true love is!
Caregiver A suddenly realized: "Oh right!"
A wave of fear washed over him.
Damn it, he almost did something irrational that openly ruined their time together!
As the number one fan of the divine love story between Sheng Yun Shen and Ling Shu, how could I do such a thing!
He lowered his head in shame and admitted, "Xiao Yi, you're the one who really understands!"
Caregiver B nodded proudly, about to boast a few words, when suddenly stopped and sniffed.
"Huh, what's that smell?"
Caregiver A also sniffed, revealing a look of delight: "It smells so good, it's the smell of snail rice noodles!"
He looked towards the ward door and said somewhat uncertainly, "The smell seems to be coming from the ward..."
Caregiver B's expression hardened even more: "Miss Ling is truly thoughtful. She must be worried that President Sheng won't be able to eat or enjoy any of the delicious food, so she specially brought snail rice noodles, a delicacy of the world. Even if President Sheng can't eat it, he can at least enjoy the smell!"
They both got to enjoy the good life too!
Caregiver A nodded vigorously in agreement: "Yes, yes, yes! That must be it!"
Waaaaah, I really love President Sheng and Miss Ling!
-
After eating three bowls of snail rice noodles from different brands, Ling Shu was satisfied and walked out of the ward with a burp.
Before leaving, she glanced back at the ward.
It feels like a snow cave, with all sorts of cold instruments piled up, it doesn't look like a place for people to live at all.
Sheng Yun Shen, lying in the middle, was also pale and cold, without a trace of humanity.
Ling Shu frowned.
She doesn't like it.
After thinking for a moment, she called Butler Wang: "Uncle Wang, could we install a TV in Sheng Yunshen's hospital room? We can play the news when we're not busy, so it'll be a bit more lively."
There was a commotion on Butler Wang's end; it sounded like many people were busy at work. His energetic voice came through the receiver: "No problem, I'll arrange it right away!"
After a pause, Butler Wang's voice softened, and he exclaimed, "Miss Ling, you are so good to President Sheng."
After hanging up the phone, Ling Shu calmly put her phone away.
Of course, she's definitely good to her cheap husband.
She even went to eat a bowl of snail rice noodles herself, just in case he was bored.
If this isn't good, then what is?!
This ward will probably be much more lively after a TV is installed, right?
When she comes over to eat snail rice noodles next time, she won't be so bored.
Ling Shu was in a good mood. She waved to the vegetative patient on the hospital bed and said goodbye in a light tone, "President Sheng, I'm leaving now. See you tomorrow!"
She opened the door and left with light steps.
Sheng Yunshen listened as her footsteps slowly faded into the distance.
The room still reeked of a terrible smell, but his sense of smell had become numb, so it wasn't too unbearable.
At this moment, several thoughts were swirling in his mind, all related to Ling Shu.
She said she wanted to install a television in his hospital room.
She told him to see him tomorrow before she left.
...It seems she never treated him like a vegetable.
The tingling sensation returned to my finger, which was adorned with the ruby ring.
Sheng Yun Shen couldn't quite tell whether the sensation was real or just an illusion in his mind.
He couldn't even tell whether the tingling sensation came from his fingers or his heart.
In the small hall outside the ward, the antique clock struck twelve again.
Sheng Yun Shen's vision blurred, and he found himself once again in that desolate, icy wasteland, facing a towering ice and snow "countdown" dial.
After learning that it was a countdown to the end of the world, he named it the Doomsday Clock.
Two days later, the Doomsday Clock hands moved forward two more increments.
There are only 58 days left until the end of the world.
Sheng Yun Shen pulled himself out of his thoughts and quietly watched the hands of the Doomsday Clock turn.
The slight tingling and fluttering in my heart just now seemed to be frozen again by the swirling snow, returning to indifference and deathly silence.
He "looked" at everything in front of him, a faint sense of mockery rising in his heart.
The end of the world is coming, the Sheng family is about to be wiped out, and he is already a cripple.
What more can we hope for?
Perhaps, for the next two months, he was destined to spend only with this ancient, cold doomsday clock, counting down the final moments of this world...
...
etc.
Upon seeing a certain spot on the doomsday clock face, Sheng Yun Shen's gaze sharpened, and his thoughts came to an end.
He looked at it carefully for a long time to make sure he wasn't mistaken.
A crack appeared on the dial of the Doomsday Clock?
The crack was short, so it wasn't noticeable, and he didn't notice it at first.
Sheng Yun Shen observed carefully and saw a dark red precious light within the crack.
In the pale world of snow and ice, this touch of dark red is the only unusual color.
This dark red color...
It seems like...
ruby?
Sheng Yunshen was startled.
A tingling sensation returned to my finger, which was adorned with a ruby ring.
He wanted to see more, but when the clock struck midnight, the icy illusion vanished, and his consciousness returned to darkness.
Sheng Yun Shen was deeply shocked and remained speechless for a long time.
What exactly happened?
-
What exactly happened?
The next morning, Ling Shu, who was sound asleep, was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door, and the same thought popped into her head.
The urgent knocking was accompanied by the maid's anxious shouts: "Miss Ling, something has happened!"
Something happened?!
Ling Shu's sleepiness vanished instantly. She nimbly rolled out of bed and quickly went to open the door.
Several maids stood outside, all looking panicked and uneasy.
In contrast, Ling Shu was much calmer and asked in a deep voice, "What's wrong?"
The head maid handed over a cell phone.
Ling Shu took the phone and heard Butler Wang's voice. His voice was a little hoarse, and he seemed very anxious and agitated: "Miss Ling, this is Butler Wang. I'm sorry to wake you up this way, but we really have no other choice..."
Something really happened.
Butler Wang himself couldn't understand why things had suddenly turned out this way.
Last night, everything went perfectly.
Under Qin Hong's meticulous arrangements, the reception prepared for Li Yin gradually took shape, with the procedures and scripts all arranged.
Butler Wang believed that as long as Li Yin came, he would definitely be persuaded by Qin Hong and be willing to cooperate with the Sheng family.
Fortunately, Jian Yicheng was kicked out of the group before his schemes could be exposed, and everything could still be salvaged.
Early this morning, Sheng Zhujun went to the headquarters of Shengshi Group in the center of Beijing to personally oversee how the group's people filled in these pitfalls.
It is said that he often sends his assistant to the small mountain village to buy rice cakes.
This small mountain village is not far from the Sheng Family Manor, less than an hour's drive away.
Upon receiving the news, Qin Hong immediately decided to make a trip to this small mountain village to personally buy some authentic fermented rice cakes to show the Sheng family's sincerity.
Butler Wang went with Qin Hong.
At this point, everything was proceeding smoothly and without any risk.
The only problem was that there was only one narrow mountain road leading to the small village. Butler Wang was extra careful when driving, and there were no problems.
After arriving at the small mountain village, Qin Hong successfully bought freshly made fermented rice cakes and breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as they were about to rush back to the Sheng family, an accident occurred.
A fully loaded truck suddenly broke down on the road, completely blocking the way down the mountain.
Qin Hong and Butler Wang can't go back.
If Qin Hong and Butler Wang wanted to go back, they would have to walk two hours along the mountain path.
However, Li Yin will arrive at the Gu family in an hour.
Having no other option, Qin Hong called Sheng Zhujun again.
Unexpectedly, Sheng Zhujun also ran into trouble. As soon as she arrived at Shengshi Group, she was blocked by several suppliers who said that she would not be allowed to leave until the payment issue was resolved.
At this time, the other members of the Sheng family were also busy with their own affairs.
There was no one left in the Sheng family manor.
Having finally agreed to visit in person, Li Yin is about to visit an unowned manor.
Without a host, how can there be guests?
If Li Yin were a little narrow-minded, he might think the Sheng family was deliberately making fun of him, thus creating an enemy.
The glimmer of hope that had finally appeared for the Sheng family was about to be extinguished once again.
Now that things have come to this, how could Qin Hong not understand?
This is likely a "hunt" specifically targeting the Sheng family. Someone must have meticulously planned and calculated every step behind the scenes, aiming to ensure that the Sheng family has no one to rely on and cannot smoothly seek help from the Li family.
Perhaps even the news about "fermented rice cake" was a fake news deliberately released by the other party at the right time, with the aim of trapping Qin Hong in a remote village.
The person behind this must be incredibly powerful to have been able to complete such a massive and meticulously planned operation so quickly.
Looking across the entire capital city, the number of families with this capability can probably be counted on one hand.
Fortunately, the person behind it all calculated everything except one person.
Ling Shu.
Perhaps, in the eyes of those behind the scenes, a "substitute bride" with a bad reputation and no presence is not worth their attention.
Now, the only person the Sheng family can rely on is Ling Shu.
After Butler Wang explained the situation to Ling Shu, Qin Hong took the phone and entrusted her with a heavy tone: "Xiao Shu, the negotiation with Li Yin can only be entrusted to you."
"Our bottom line is to transfer 10% of Shengshi Group's shares and a seat on the board of directors, allowing the Li family to participate in major decisions of Shengshi Group. Xiaoshu, this is the greatest sincerity the Sheng family can offer, and President Li should accept it."
"I'm leaving everything to you..."
Given the size of Shengshi Group, a 10% stake is already a huge sum of money.
However, Ling Shu didn't care much about these things. She remembered what Qin Hong said and nodded calmly: "Madam, Uncle Wang, don't worry, leave it to me."
She doesn't understand business, but she understands negotiation.
Especially with important figures like Li Yin, a big shot in the original book, Ling Shu could glean insights into his style and preferences from the original plot.
"I will make sure everything is arranged perfectly, so just wait for the good news."
-
Xiaoming is in a ward on the third floor of the building.
The two caregivers, A and B, sat facing each other.
Xiao Jia said seriously, "Have you heard? It seems the Sheng family has been set up! Right now, the Madam, the Eldest Miss, and the Eldest Young Master are all out and can't make it back to greet President Li!"
Xiao Yi exclaimed in alarm, "What should we do? Look at the time, President Li will be here soon!"
Xiao Jia sighed, "Luckily, we still have Miss Ling!"
Xiao Yi suddenly realized: "Oh right, and Miss Ling Shu too. With Miss Ling's intelligence, she will definitely be able to entertain President Li well."
They both quickly relaxed, but Sheng Yun Shen was not calm.
If he weren't physically unable to move, his brows would probably be furrowed tightly by now.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Ling Shu, but the Sheng family was currently at a disadvantage, and persuading the Li family to lend a hand wouldn't be easy. Even if his mother, Qin Hong, intervened, she probably only had an 80% chance of success.
Ling Shu has a free-spirited and unrestrained personality, so it must be much more difficult for her in comparison...
Thinking about this, he felt anxious and helpless.
If only he hadn't been in the car accident...
If only he could open his eyes and stand up right now...
Is the glimmer of hope that the Sheng family has fought so hard for really going to slip away?
And all he could do was lie there and watch, unable to do anything.
hateful!
He was caught in a familiar pain and resentment, unaware of the tingling sensation returning to his fingers.
As if sensing his emotional excitement, the originally faint tingling sensation gradually became stronger.
Even the emotionally charged Sheng Yun Shen couldn't ignore the intensity of it.
His thoughts froze for a second before he realized that there was really something wrong with the ring.
Before he could finish asking the question, his thoughts were struck as if by a heavy hammer, sending a terrifying wave of dizziness through him.
Sheng Yunshen felt as if his consciousness had become a ping-pong ball on the court, being hit back and forth, flying around wildly, sparks flying everywhere.
Finally, with a "click," it flew into a corner and was able to stop.
It took Sheng Yunshen a while to regain his senses.
Before me was still a thick darkness, seemingly no different.
He muttered to himself, "...What happened?"
"Huh?"
A woman's voice asked curiously, "Who are you?"
Sheng Yun Shen didn't answer her question; he was already in shock and didn't know how to respond for a moment.
It took him a few seconds to realize what was happening.
This seems to be...
Ling Shu's voice.
Author's Note: It flew into Ling Shu's mind [shy]
Ling Shu was a little confused.
She was rummaging through the Sheng family's storeroom, and had just tiptoed to grab a few potatoes from the shelf.
"……what happened?"
The sudden, deep male voice startled her, causing her fingertips to tremble and the potato to tumble back into the box. The man's voice was deep, mellow, and magnetic, with a hint of innocent bewilderment.
It sounds like the voice of a very, very handsome man.
Ling Shu curled her fingers slightly, immediately realizing that the voice came from the depths of her mind.
She picked up the mud-splattered potatoes again, put them in the basket she was carrying, and asked calmly, "Who are you?"
Several seconds passed before the male voice slowly replied, "...You are...Ling Shu?"
Ling Shu lowered her eyes, asking with even greater curiosity, "You know my name, and you can even speak in my head?"
If a normal person encountered this situation, they would probably panic and think they had developed schizophrenia or something.
Ling Shu remained calm, after all, she herself had transmigrated into a book.
It wouldn't be surprising if they added something else.
As a normal person, Sheng Yun Shen was completely bewildered.
Before him was still a familiar, boundless darkness, and he didn't know why he could suddenly "communicate" with Ling Shu.
Ling Shu also said that he was in her "mind"?
...It sounds like someone is mentally ill or a ghost.
He panicked a little as soon as Ling Shu opened her mouth.
He wasn't ready to communicate with her in this way.
Nominally, they were the closest of couples, but in reality, they were complete strangers who had never spoken a word to each other.
She recognized him so quickly?
Until Ling Shu finished answering all her questions.
Sheng Yun Shen was utterly shocked: "???"
Why add the word "dog" to "system"?
He was so shocked that he didn't realize he had actually asked the question.
Ling Shu replied, "I've been here for three days, and you're only showing up now. Aren't you a dog? Now that you're finally here, tell me, what kind of cheat code did you bring me?"
Sheng Yun Shen: "??"
Gold, the Golden Finger?
He fell silent.
Ling Shu pressed, "Why aren't you saying anything? Don't you have any cheat codes? Can't you give me some skills?"
Sheng Yun Shen: "..."
Ling Shu: "Card draws? Daily check-ins? Chat groups? You don't have any of these?"
Sheng Yun Shen: "...No."
He couldn't understand any of this.
Ling Shu sighed: "Sigh, so what is my mission? To prevent the apocalypse? To save the world?"
Sheng Yun Shen: "...I don't know."
Ling Shu asked again, "Do you know the plot? If not, you can at least tell me about it!"
Sheng Yun Shen: "...I don't know..."
What's the plot?
Ling Shu remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly shocked by his ignorance and fearlessness.
She exclaimed, "Could it be that you're one of those legendary systems that only offers chatting functionality, focusing on companionship?"
Sheng Yun Shen: "...Hmm..."
He hesitated whether to reveal his true identity to Ling Shu.
Compared to a useless system that knows nothing, and a useless, vegetative husband who somehow crawled into their mind, the useless system seems more normal.
However, he was not used to deceiving others, and he did not want to deceive Ling Shu.
Sheng Yunshen was caught in a struggle between "speaking" and "not speaking".
As he recalled the current situation, he felt a chill run down his spine and instantly came to his senses.
There won't be time for him to dwell on it.
Li Yin is about to pay a visit, and Ling Shu must greet him!
At this critical juncture, if he reveals his true identity, will it frighten Ling Shu and completely destroy the Sheng family's hopes?
Given the current situation, he decided to wait and see before confessing to Ling Shu.
Thinking of this, Sheng Yunshen made a decision and admitted somewhat awkwardly, "Well, host... hello, I am... Chatting System 520... but I am not useless. I can help you solve the current crisis. As long as the host follows my guidance, the cooperation between the Sheng family and the Li family can be successfully completed."
"Follow the instructions?" Ling Shu chuckled. "The chat system knows this?"
After a moment's thought, Sheng Yun quickly drafted a plan and began to make arrangements methodically: "First, find Chef Chen and ask about the preparation of the dishes. Then contact Secretary Zhang of the group and obtain the revenue data of Shengshi Group for the past few years..."
Inviting Li Yin was more than just a simple meal.
During the meal, the Sheng family needs to demonstrate sufficient strength and sincerity in order to impress Li Yin and secure a cooperation opportunity with the Li family.
Ling Shu was an outsider and had no familiarity with the operations of Shengshi Group.
Fortunately, Sheng Yunshen could communicate with her and guide her at any time.
Even though it's still pitch black in front of him and he can't see anything, with his memory and the help of various materials, there shouldn't be much of a problem.
Sheng Yunshen's mind raced, his mouth never stopping, "Right, I also need to contact Director Wu to see if there have been any noteworthy changes with the Li family recently..."
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice Ling Shu's reaction at all.
After speaking for five minutes without receiving any response, Sheng Yun Shen realized something was wrong.
His first thought was that he had "disconnected," so he had to stop giving instructions and tentatively call out.
"Ling Shu?"
No one responded to him.
"...Host? Are you still there?"
Ling Shu finally answered lazily, "I'm here."
She was carrying a large bag of groceries and was walking out of the storeroom.
With forty-five minutes to go before Li Yin's arrival, she had quite a few things to do, so she quickened her pace slightly.
She was busy browsing the warehouse and didn't pay attention to the dog system that suddenly appeared.
This "chatting companion" system truly lived up to its name, constantly chattering in her mind like white noise. However, she didn't really pay attention to what it was saying.
Sheng Yun Shen: "..."
He took a deep breath, then another, before he could barely calm down.
It was obvious that Ling Shu hadn't heard a single word of what he had just said.
He was indeed too hasty.
Ling Shu didn't know any of the people he mentioned. Things could only be done one step at a time; there was no need to rush.
Sheng Yunshen softened his tone and said slowly, "Please contact Chef Chen first to find out the preparation status of the dishes."
It's okay, he'll just treat this as a "beginner's tutorial" and take it one step at a time.
Ling Shu paused slightly, realizing what had happened: "Oh, right."
In the darkness, Sheng Yun Shen heard Ling Shu's voice.
"Hello, is this Chef Chen? This is Ling Shu. I wanted to ask how the dishes are being prepared?"
He felt a little relieved.
It seems his idea was right; as long as they communicated well, he and Ling Shu would definitely be able to resolve this crisis smoothly.
Once inside Ling Shu's mind, Sheng Yun Shen was able to share Ling Shu's hearing.
He heard Chef Chen on the other end of the phone reply, "Ms. Ling, don't worry, all the dishes are ready. There are only some dishes that need to be stir-fried on the spot that haven't been put into the pot yet."
Just as Sheng Yunshen's feeling of relief was halfway through, he heard Ling Shu say, "There's no need to cook the dishes that haven't been cooked yet. I've prepared something else for President Li, so we won't be eating in the banquet hall. You can share the dishes that are already cooked."
Chef Chen was stunned: "Huh?"
Sheng Yun Shen was also stunned: "??!!"
Ling Shu confirmed again: "Yes, there's no need to cook anything. I'm going to treat President Li to something else."
Chef Chen on the other end of the phone was silent for several seconds before finally agreeing: "...Yes, Miss Ling."
He did not raise any objections or questions.
This has always been the Sheng family's style; Ling Shu is currently in charge of entertaining Li Yin.
Even if the Sheng family has doubts about Ling Shu's decisions, they will try their best to comply.
Just like when Ling Shu moved into Xiaoming Building and wanted to turn the lawn in front of the building into a vegetable garden, no one raised any objections.
"Thank you for your hard work, Chef Chen. Please enjoy your meal."
After giving her instructions, Ling Shu hung up the phone.
Fortunately, the dog system reminded her that she had really forgotten about this. If too much food was made in the kitchen, it would be a waste if it couldn't be finished.
It seems the dog system is still somewhat useful.
However, it has far too many problems.
Now it asked her again, "Why not use the dishes that have already been prepared to entertain Li Yin? This is the menu prepared by the First Madam, it certainly won't go wrong. Besides, time is of the essence now, you don't have enough time to cook something else..."
Ling Shu was quite patient with it.
After all, it's her system, so she has to be a little more tolerant.
She explained, "Damn system, you should at least know the original plot, right? Have you forgotten what Li Yin likes?"
Sheng Yun Shen's question abruptly ended: "..."
What's the original plot?
He genuinely didn't know.
After thinking for a moment, Sheng Yun Shen had no choice but to make up another lie, explaining with a tight throat: "I... I had a garbled error before I bound myself to the book, and I lost the original plot."
Ling Shu accepted this reason quite quickly: "It's okay, then just relax and watch my performance."
During the time she was talking to the dog system, she had already returned to Xiaoming Building from the warehouse.
The area outside the building had been cleaned up as she had instructed, and all the necessary materials had been prepared.
Several servants stood by, ready to answer her call at any moment.
Ling Shu nodded in satisfaction, stopped chatting with the dog system, and began to direct everyone to get moving.
Outside Xiaoming Building, a flurry of activity quickly erupted as everyone awaited Li Yin's arrival.
-
Meanwhile, outside the Sheng family manor.
A black minivan was parked at a corner out of the security guard's sight, and several people wearing baseball caps were huddled inside the vehicle.
The driver peered outside and asked, "Is it confirmed? Li Yin's group has already set off?"
A man in a suit, around fifty years old, smiled slightly and said confidently, "I just got word that the kid has already left. He'll be here in half an hour."
"Half an hour..."
The driver checked the time on his phone and let out a cold laugh. "Half an hour? Even if the Sheng family had wings, not one of them could fly back. The Sheng family didn't even tell Li Yin about the situation so he could arrange another time?"
His slightly swollen eyes looked in the direction of the Sheng family manor, and a hint of malicious curiosity crept into his voice, "Now that no one is in the Sheng family, who will receive that kid?"
Someone nearby mocked, "Even the butler isn't here. Couldn't they send a cook or a gardener instead?"
The joke was so lame and boring, but it still elicited a burst of laughter in the car.
The man in the suit laughed the loudest and was the most smug.
"Even if the Sheng family arranged for someone to receive them, they would never have imagined that we not only sent people to Shengshi Group to block Sheng Zhujun, but also waited here."
"As soon as that kid shows up, we'll get out of the car immediately, surround the Sheng family's gate, and demand they pay back the money! Didn't Li Yin agree to help the Sheng family? It's time to show him that the Sheng family has already caused such a mess, does he still dare to take action?"
The man in the suit and the others were clearly well aware of the importance of the Li family's attitude.
They chose to launch their attack when Li Yin came to visit, precisely to make Li Yin understand that the Sheng family was already in decline, a dying beast, and not worth saving at all.
The driver bowed and scraped, handing the man in the suit a freshly cut cigar and flattering him, "It's all thanks to your foresight, Mr. Liu, and the fact that you're a relative of the Li family."
"If you ask me, as long as you step in and act like an elder, even if you directly ask Mr. Li not to help the Sheng family, Mr. Li will definitely obey without question and dare not disobey in the slightest."
As he spoke, he gestured with his hands in front of him, "He was this small back then, like a wolf cub, so fierce! But so what if he was fierce? I still managed to keep him completely under my thumb!"
Recalling the "glorious years" of the past, the man in the suit was beaming with excitement, his baseball cap almost flying off his head.
A cheerful atmosphere filled the car.
Just as they were having a pleasant conversation, a knocking sound suddenly came from the car window.
The man in the suit stopped his boasting, annoyed, and glared at the person knocking on the car window: "Who is it!"
Logically speaking, since this was a "conspiracy," they should have kept a low profile and tried their best not to be discovered.
However, the person knocking on the car window was a woman. Although she was wearing a mask and her face was not clearly visible, you could see her clear and bright eyes, which were full of smiles. She looked harmless and posed no threat whatsoever.
Seeing the group of men in suits roll down their car windows and look at her with unfriendly expressions, the woman's eyes curved into two beautiful crescent moons.
Her voice was also very pleasant: "Brother, could you please tell me the way?"
The man in the suit rolled his eyes, his attitude immediately becoming amiable: "Oh, little sister, got lost while out having fun? Where are you going? Want to get in my car? I'll take you there."
The woman smiled generously: "Sure, I went on a picnic with my classmates and it's a bit chilly, so I'd like to head back first. Could you please take me to the bus stop halfway up the mountain?"
"Okay, little sister, come on up."
The man in the suit immediately gestured to the person next to him to open the door.
At his age, he had seen countless beauties and had his own set of "insights on beauty".
Although you can't see the woman's face clearly outside the car, you can tell from her eyebrows, eyes, and voice that what's hidden under the mask must be an absolutely stunning beauty.
Anyway, there's still half an hour before Li Yin arrives, so I'll drop her off at the station on the way, add her on WeChat, and show off my wealth.
If a beautiful woman takes the bait, that would be a pleasant surprise.
The car door opened, and the woman glanced around the car before getting in.
The man in the suit thought she was nervous because there were so many people in the car. He kindly explained, "Don't worry, the four of us brothers are just out for a picnic."
The woman nodded and whispered, "Yes, four people."
Her voice was too soft for the man in the suit to hear clearly. He exclaimed, "Ah!" and then asked, "Little sister? What did you say?"
The woman looked up, smiled at him, and her eyes sparkled with joy.
The man in the suit was completely captivated. As he watched the woman finally lift her foot to get into the car, a determined glint flashed in his puffy eyes.
Before he could finish speaking, he caught a glimpse of the woman's hand waving towards him out of the corner of his eye. The movement was as fast as the Grim Reaper's scythe, even leaving afterimages.
A dull pain came from the back of my neck.
The man in the suit suddenly went black and lost consciousness.
-
At 11 a.m., Li Yin's car arrived at the Sheng family manor on time.
After the driver brought the car to a stop, Li Yin got out of the car alone.
Today he was still wearing a long coat and a pair of huge sunglasses, which concealed his handsome features.
He tilted his head back, his gaze passing through his sunglasses as he looked toward the imposing gate of the Sheng family manor.
After gazing for a moment, he looked away, casually put his hands in his coat pockets, and walked steadily and powerfully toward the door.
A servant was already waiting at the door. As he approached, the servant bowed respectfully and greeted him, "Good afternoon, Mr. Li. My master has been waiting for you. Please come in."
Li Yin nodded slightly and followed the servant into the Sheng family's gate.
This was his first time visiting the Sheng family manor, and what he saw was exactly as rumored.
On the vast land, the greenery is arranged in a pleasing manner, and the buildings are exquisite, showcasing the heritage of a long-established and prestigious family.
A servant led him to a shuttle bus, which drove deeper into the manor.
Li Yin leaned comfortably against the armrest, his posture relaxed, his sunglasses reflecting the passing scenery, a faint smile always playing on his lips.
The car stopped outside Xiaoming Building, and the maid got out first, politely inviting, "Mr. Li, my master is just ahead."
Li Yin strode out of the car, straightened his coat, and looked up in the direction the maid was pointing.
It was a small hill, on which stood a quiet, elegant pavilion. Beside the pavilion were several large camellia trees, their blossoms in full bloom, like a tree full of red flames.
Beside the camellia, a woman sat cross-legged on the ground.
She was dressed in a plain-colored outfit, her hair was tied up, and a few playful strands of hair fell down from her fair cheeks, making her look relaxed and at ease.
Just then, she looked up, and their clear eyes met.
In that instant, time seemed to stand still, and Li Yin's heartbeat seemed to stop for a beat.
The woman smiled at him and raised her hand to greet him warmly: "Mr. Li, come over here."
He had never met her in person, only seen her photos, and had some impression of her outstanding appearance.
Of course, he also remembered her rumored personality as "unpredictable, introverted and awkward".
Li Yin raised an eyebrow slightly.
The Sheng family actually... only sent Ling Shu to see him?
His gaze fixed on Ling Shu, a hint of disbelief flashing across his face.
Ling Shu is...
Playing with fire?!
-
In front of Ling Shu was a shallow pit.
Inside the pit, several thick pieces of firewood were burning fiercely, the fire crackling and popping every now and then, sending sparks flying in all directions.
Ling Shu held several skewers of grilled meat in her hand. The skewers sizzled with oil, which dripped onto the burning logs, instantly creating a cloud of smoke carrying the aroma of meat.
With her other hand, she held the spice bottle, and with a gentle flick of her wrist, the fine seasonings were evenly sprinkled onto the grilled meat.
His movements were fluid and natural; he was clearly a barbecue expert.
This scene was so different from what he had imagined that he was being received that Li Yin was somewhat stunned.
Finally, he smiled, shook his head, took off his sunglasses and coat, and handed them to the maid beside him.
Then he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, which were originally buttoned up meticulously, and went over to sit opposite Ling Shu.
The firelight reflected in his pupils, shimmering with a fiery red glow.
He had just sat down when Ling Shu handed him a skewer of grilled meat: "Mr. Li, you've come at the perfect time. These are freshly grilled skewers. Want to try some?"
Li Yin did not refuse. He took the small meat skewer, took a bite, and his eyes lit up slightly. He exclaimed sincerely, "Delicious!"
Ling Shu proudly said, "The small meat skewers I grill myself can be exchanged for gold bricks."
However, that was in the late post-apocalyptic period, and the fresh, uncontaminated meat, combined with her unique cooking skills, was indeed worth as much as gold.
Li Yin smiled slightly.
Ling Shu then said, "I'm sorry, something happened to the Sheng family today, and I'm the only one at home."
As she spoke, she took out several fresh skewers of meat and vegetables from the side and put them on the fire to continue grilling.
"As Mr. Li should know, I grew up in the countryside and my specialty is barbecue. I hope you won't find this too offensive."
Li Yin stared at the flickering red flames, his expression momentarily blank.
He didn't ask her what had happened to the Sheng family, but instead said in a low voice, "I also grew up in the countryside."
"Oh? What a coincidence."
Ling Shu raised an eyebrow slightly.
Suddenly, she remembered something and quickly bent down to grab the fire tongs beside her, muttering, "Oh, I almost forgot, there's this treasure too!"
Li Yin watched her every move quietly.
Ling Shu skillfully rummaged through the fire with fire tongs, and soon pulled out several dark, round balls that were still smoking.
The maid next to her came forward with a plate, picked up the "charcoal" and put it on the plate, and began to process it carefully.
Scrape off the black ash from the surface, and the "charcoal" reveals a golden-yellow skin, emitting a tempting aroma.
Ling Shu looked at it carefully, and explained to Li Yin with some pride, "These are genuine mountain potatoes, they're delicious."
After processing, the maid handed the potatoes to Ling Shu.
Ling Shu produced another knife from somewhere and cut it in half.
While paddling, she asked Li Yin, "Can you eat spicy food?"
Li Yin replied, "Yes."
As if by magic, Ling Shu took out a dish of chili sauce from the side, skillfully spread a layer of it in the middle of the potato, and then handed the potato to Li Yin, saying with a smile, "Try it, this is my secret chili sauce."
Li Yin took the potato, took two bites, and commented seriously, "Delicious."
"Is it delicious?"
Ling Shu immediately smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
This Mr. Li is such a nice guest. He's not picky, not pretentious, easygoing, and very supportive.
She waved her hand generously, "I made a lot, Mr. Li, why don't you take a box back with you?"
"OK."
Li Yin didn't stand on ceremony and nodded in agreement.
The atmosphere at the scene was very harmonious.
After a while, Ling Shu picked up the hoe again, dug out a perfectly cooked beggar's chicken from under the fire, cracked open the yellow clay shell, and shared half with Li Yin.
Sheng Yunshen's consciousness was quietly "listening" in Ling Shu's mind.
Ever since Li Yin said, "I also grew up in the countryside," Sheng Yun Shen had realized that Ling Shu had made the right choice in inviting him to this meal.
Li Yin suddenly took control of the Li family. Before that, he had never appeared in public, and the outside world knew almost nothing about him.
Sheng Yunshen sent people to investigate him, but they couldn't find out his background. Before taking control of the Li family, Li Yin was like an invisible person that no one cared about.
No one knew that he had also grown up in the countryside.
However... given how pleasant the atmosphere is at this meal, shouldn't Ling Shu bring up the matter of the cooperation between the Sheng family and the Li family?
He couldn't help but speak up to remind him, "Host, now is the perfect time. Let's find an opportunity to mention the Sheng family's current predicament."
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