Chapter 24 The Zhao Family's overtures: You're single, I'm single too, so why don't you...
Bai Yue thought she must have misheard.
How could the Sheng family treat Ling Shu so well?
Before he could finish speaking, Butler Wang straightened up and interrupted him with a look of disapproval: "Shut up!"
He stopped smiling and his expression turned serious. "As a butler, how can you speak ill of your master? If you don't even understand the most basic etiquette, I suggest you leave immediately."
Bai Yue shrank back in fright, not daring to argue with Butler Wang.
However, she was still somewhat depressed.
Ling Shu's current situation in the Sheng family is completely different from what she imagined.
Given Bai Yue's worldview and values, she couldn't understand why "the Sheng family would actually like Ling Shu."
It's because the Sheng family has the background of a wealthy family, and they have rules and upbringing.
So that means...
Bai Yue thought of something that excited her.
If she succeeds in taking power, wouldn't Ling Shu's present be her future?
Once she moves into Bu Xian Xian, she'll have the final say on what the outside world will look like!
Thinking of this, Bai Yue couldn't help but reveal a somewhat dreamy smile.
She wiped the dirt off her hands on the hem of her clothes and took out her phone to send a message to her "boss".
"Send the medicine over as soon as possible."
She couldn't wait any longer.
A few minutes later, they replied.
"I'll arrive this afternoon. Please wait quietly."
The medicine wouldn't arrive until the afternoon, which disappointed Bai Yue a little. However, the thought of moving into Buxian Immortal's House in the future filled her with fighting spirit, and she even had more energy to pull weeds.
While quickly pulling weeds, she secretly made plans in her mind.
Two days, just two more days.
Two days later, she will do whatever it takes to win over Sheng Yunqi!
-
In the afternoon, an uninvited guest arrived at the Sheng family home, specifically requesting to see Sheng Zhujun.
When the maid reported to Sheng Zhujun, she froze, her hand holding the cards trembling. "What? Who said they were looking for me?"
The servant bowed respectfully: "It is Mr. Zhao Liheng from the Zhao family."
Sheng Zhujun was puzzled: "I've never had any dealings with him before, why is he coming to see me?"
Fearing that Ling Shu wouldn't understand, she turned her head to explain to Ling Shu, "The Zhao family is considered a very powerful family in Beijing, only slightly less powerful than us and the Li family. But they are rather special, with connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles, and sometimes they don't know how to behave properly, so we have almost never had any dealings with them."
Actually, Sheng Zhujun's words were quite tactful.
The so-called "not very particular" refers to the fact that the Zhao family often operates in a gray area, appearing law-abiding on the surface, but allegedly engaging in many illegal activities behind the scenes.
We just can't find any evidence to punish them.
The Sheng family despises such wealthy families and would never associate with them.
Sheng Zhujun added, "President Zhao has two sons, the elder son Zhao Lixin and the younger son Zhao Liheng. Zhao Liheng was a troublemaker since he was a child. He has toned down a bit as he grew up, but he is still a playboy. He has ruined more than a dozen female celebrities."
Compared to Zhao Liheng, Jian Yicheng could be considered a respectable husband.
Ling Shu also put down her cards, lost in thought.
The Zhao family name... sounds familiar too.
Ah! I remember now! It's the Zhao family, isn't it?!
Wow!
Her voice suddenly rose, leaving Sheng Zhujun somewhat stunned.
...Stop just exclaiming "Wow!", tell us what juicy gossip the Zhao family has to offer!
Sheng Zhujun shook her head helplessly; she was already used to Ling Shu's style of only eating half of the melon.
Zhao Liheng was still waiting in the reception room. She didn't have time to ask Ling Shu any more questions and could only tell her later.
But what exactly did Zhao Liheng want with her?
She removed the Kapibala stickers from her face, changed into a formal outfit, and walked out of the reception room with a heavy heart.
I had a feeling that nothing good was coming from the Zhao family.
Before even entering the reception room, one could immediately see several tall bodyguards standing guard outside. They were all dressed in black suits and large sunglasses, with bulging waistbands, presumably concealing some kind of weapon. They looked like menacing figures.
Sheng Zhujun's gaze swept over their stiff faces, a hint of displeasure in her eyes.
She subconsciously disliked these people, always feeling that they carried a ruthless and bloody aura.
As she entered the room, she looked at the person sitting casually on the sofa with a slightly cold expression.
"Mr. Zhao, what brings you here so suddenly?"
Zhao Liheng was dressed in a flashy outfit and wore large sunglasses. Upon hearing her voice, he raised his hand and took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of slightly puffy eyes.
"Junjun, don't be so formal."
He smiled greasyly, "I was abroad for a while and couldn't attend President Sheng's wedding. I'm really sorry."
Sheng Zhujun walked over and sat down opposite him, her posture upright and proper.
“This is a small matter, Mr. Zhao, you don’t need to make the trip in person.”
"How can this be a small matter?"
Zhao Liheng shook his head. "I heard that at the wedding, your boyfriend actually broke up with you publicly? Because he fell in love with your best friend? If you ask me, he must have been blind. You should have broken his legs and thrown him out back then."
Sheng Zhujun did not answer. She carefully examined Zhao Liheng's smiling face, trying to figure out what his purpose was.
Zhao Liheng was also sizing her up.
As expected of the eldest daughter of the Sheng family, her face showed no emotion whatsoever, only calmness.
Her back remained straight, like a sapling that could not be knocked down by wind and rain.
Compared to those delicate female celebrities, she has a unique charm.
He tossed his sunglasses aside, leaned back on the sofa, and said casually, "It's a good thing to see the true colors of a scumbag beforehand, right, Junjun? At least..."
Zhao Liheng gave a knowing smile.
Even with her excellent upbringing, Sheng Zhujun's expression changed at this moment.
After thinking it over, I never expected that Zhao Liheng would actually come to my door to promote himself.
She paused for two seconds, then calmly asked, "What does Mr. Zhao mean by this?"
"It means exactly what it says." Zhao Liheng stared intently at her. "Junjun, you're single, and I'm single too. Why don't you consider me?"
His eyes were full of aggression, like a wolf staring at its prey it was determined to get.
The wolf didn't come empty-handed; it calmly threw out bait.
"As long as you are willing to marry me, the Zhao family can help the Sheng family with their affairs."
Sheng Zhujun didn't get angry; she even smiled good-naturedly.
"Oh? How can I help?"
She wanted to see how the Zhao family planned to help the Sheng family.
Zhao Liheng tilted his head: "Junjun, you are also a member of the Sheng family, and you should have a share in Shengshi Group. After we get married, the Zhao family will help you manage Shengshi Group. With our support, Shengshi Group will only be yours in the future."
Sheng Zhujun looked at his smug expression and almost laughed.
What help? The Zhao family just wants to use her as a springboard to swallow up the entire Sheng family.
What a grand gesture, what a shrewd calculation!
Since the other party is shameless, she doesn't need to give them a friendly welcome.
Sheng Zhujun stood up, her tone stern: "Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Zhao, but I have no interest in matters of the heart right now, and I have no plans to get married. Mr. Zhao, please leave."
If it weren't for the fact that he had so many bodyguards, she would have had him kicked out long ago.
Now it seems no wonder Zhao Liheng has such a grand entourage, always bringing so many bodyguards when he goes out.
How can someone be so infuriating?
Seeing that she was telling him to leave, Zhao Liheng wasn't angry and slowly stood up.
"Junjun, you should seriously consider my suggestion. I'm much better than that unfilial son, Li Yin."
He put his glasses back on and grinned at Sheng Zhujun. "You may not know, but less than a year after Li Yin took power, outsiders can no longer see Old Master Li. It is said that the old master is under house arrest in the Li family's old mansion, with only a few old servants by his side."
"Tsk tsk, Li Yin was personally trained by Old Master Li. I never expected him to repay the old master like this after he's grown up. Junjun, do you think you can trust someone like him to cooperate with?"
After speaking ill of Li Yin, Zhao Liheng raised his hands, making a gesture as if waiting for an embrace, "Give up the Li family and choose us, I won't let you down."
Sheng Zhujun crossed her arms and watched his performance indifferently, unmoved.
Li Yin was someone Ling Shu had certified. If he were truly as mean and ungrateful as Zhao Liheng claimed, Ling Shu would never have approved of him.
Sheng Zhujun did not trust Li Yin, but she unconditionally trusted Ling Shu.
Therefore, she wouldn't believe a single word Zhao Liheng said.
After waiting a few seconds and seeing that Sheng Zhujun did not react, Zhao Liheng lowered his hand with some regret.
He didn't want to make a fool of himself, so he nodded to her and said, "Junjun, I'll take my leave now. The doors of the Zhao family will always be open for you."
After saying this, Zhao Liheng turned around and strode away.
His several bodyguards in black followed silently, forming a large and imposing group that exuded the aura of a mafia boss.
Sheng Zhujun stood there, silently watching him leave.
Once his figure had completely disappeared, she withdrew her gaze and scoffed, "Sick."
After venting her frustrations, she looked at the maid beside her and asked in a low voice, "How was it? Any commotion?"
The maid bowed her head and answered respectfully, "Miss, while you were talking just now, two bodyguards pretended to have stomach aches and used the main building's restroom. One of the bodyguards put a tightly wrapped packet of medicine powder into the water tank."
As she spoke, another servant came over, holding the packet of medicine powder left behind by Zhao Liheng's bodyguard.
"The 'boss' also sent a message to Bai Yue, which we intercepted. According to his message, it was an aphrodisiac powder that had only appeared on the black market in the US two weeks ago. The ingredients were very new, and it would metabolize quickly. Fifteen minutes after being exposed, even a blood test wouldn't detect the drug."
"A new drug that was only launched two weeks ago?"
Sheng Zhujun raised her eyebrows.
As expected of the Zhao family, they can even get their hands on something like this.
It seems that Zhao Liheng has both overt and covert purposes for coming here.
The first purpose is the obvious one: he wants to marry her and take the opportunity to seize control of the Sheng family.
The Sheng family kept a close watch on Bai Yue and strictly checked everyone who came in and out. If they tried to send the medicine in by ordinary means, it would be extremely difficult and could easily alert the enemy.
Zhao Liheng's high-profile approach actually makes it less likely to arouse suspicion.
If the Sheng family hadn't been prepared, they might have overlooked this point.
Sheng Zhujun stared at the powdered medicine, her heart sinking slightly.
The person hiding behind Jian Yicheng and Bai Yue, using all sorts of underhanded tricks to try and destroy the Sheng family, was actually from the Zhao family.
Only a family like the Zhao family, with its uninhibited traditions, could commit such a heinous act.
With a sigh, Sheng Zhujun waved her hand: "Give the powder to Bai Yue, and keep only a little for testing."
"yes."
The maid holding the medicine powder nodded and was about to leave.
"etc."
Sheng Zhujun suddenly remembered something and called out to him again.
A sly smile played on her lips. "Add a little something to Bai Yue's head, so she doesn't get the medicine so easily."
Sheng Zhujun is annoyed by Bai Yue now, so she'll take this opportunity to collect some interest first.
-
Bai Yue waited anxiously all afternoon, and finally received news from her "boss".
"The medicine has been delivered; I'll pick it up when I have the chance."
She's currently in the wine cellar, learning from Butler Wang about various methods of storing and maintaining wines.
There are countless considerations regarding temperature, humidity, and even the angle at which the wine bottle is placed.
Wines from different years should not be placed too close together to avoid their flavors influencing each other.
Bai Yue was having a headache listening to this, glaring fiercely at these expensive wines that cost tens of thousands of yuan.
She didn't want to know how to store the wine; she just wanted to open a few bottles and have a good taste.
It's best to pair it with the freshest black truffle steak so that the flavors of the red wine and the beef complement each other perfectly.
This is what she should really be doing!
Upon receiving the message, Bai Yue hurriedly pretended to have a stomachache, and, ignoring the disapproving gaze of Butler Wang, hid in the bathroom.
Where can I pick it up?
The other party replied: "One million."
Bai Yue typed a string of question marks: "???"
What do you mean? You want money?
Are you kidding me?
The "boss" was really not joking.
"This medicine is very rare; it can't even be detected in a blood test, and it's more expensive than gold. If you take my medicine, you should at least show some sincerity so that I can trust you."
Bai Yue was furious: "You hired me to do this, how dare you ask me for money? Aren't you afraid I'll make a scene and it'll look bad for everyone?"
The other party's response was cold and indifferent.
"Whatever you like. Cash on delivery, medicine on delivery. You can leave anytime if you're not satisfied."
"..."
Bai Yue gritted her teeth.
Now that things have come to this, how could she possibly back down!
Even though she was so angry at the "boss's" shamelessness that she could barely contain herself, she had no choice but to suppress it.
"Okay, I'll transfer it to you. After it's done, I want 52 million!"
"……make a deal."
Bai Yue gritted her teeth, hesitated for a long time while holding her phone, and then transferred one million with great reluctance.
This was the money she had just received from her boss, and before she could even enjoy it, she returned it.
Once she succeeds, will she still be short of one million?
The other party quickly accepted the payment and sent her the detailed location of the medicine.
In the restroom on the first floor of the main building.
"Note that this medicine is very potent; a small amount is enough to take effect."
Bai Yue was too lazy to reply and put her phone away.
Fortunately, she was not far from the first floor at the moment, so she could go and get it right away.
She looked around to make sure no one was outside, then carefully slipped out of the corridor and hurried down the stairs to the first floor.
Bai Yue finally felt completely relieved after barging into the bathroom and finding a well-packaged white powder in the sink.
She put the medicine into her inner pocket, made sure no one was outside, and then sneaked back inside.
Seeing that she had been absent for a full ten minutes, Butler Wang was very dissatisfied with her and gave her a rag, telling her to wipe the wine bottle carefully.
Every bottle must be kept clean and tidy, without even a speck of dust.
Bai Yue was in a good mood, took the rag, and obediently started wiping.
She worked very diligently, wiping each bottle clean.
Just consider it as wiping it for yourself.
Once she becomes the eldest daughter-in-law of the Sheng family, she will drink every bottle of red wine she has wiped.
Every single bottle!
-
Busy until nightfall, Bai Yue dragged her tired body back to Buxian Immortal.
She saw Su Ruomeng again in the tea room on the first floor.
Today, Su Ruomeng changed into a flowing, ethereal gauze dress and sat in the tea room playing the guqin.
With a light dance of fingers, the ancient and rustic sound of the zither flowed out like a clear spring.
Bai Yue glanced at it, then looked away, her heart filled with disdain.
What's the point of pretending to be so elegant?
Are they not hens that can't lay eggs?
With something on her mind, she didn't provoke Su Ruomeng or inquire about Sheng Yunqi's whereabouts, and went straight back to her room.
She wanted to personally test the medicine given to her by her "boss" to confirm its effectiveness.
Bai Yue took out a water glass, poured in half a glass of warm water, carefully added some medicine powder, drank it down in one gulp, and sat on the bed waiting for the medicine to take effect.
Soon, my body felt like a furnace running at full power, bringing wave after wave of heat.
She couldn't help but let out a soft moan, raising her hand to touch her cheek, feeling its burning heat.
My body felt limp and my mind became unclear.
The music coming from outside the window was no longer like a flowing mountain stream, but instead carried a lingering, tender quality.
No wonder it's a miracle drug she got for a million dollars.
She forced herself to stand up, leaned against the wall, and walked into the bathroom, where she immersed herself in the bathtub that had been prepared beforehand.
The slightly cool water dissipated the heat that kept surging within her body.
She sat in the bathtub, hugging her knees, and couldn't help but giggle.
Two days left, only two days left.
She really can't wait.
-
"Two days, only two days left."
At the same time, on the third floor of Xiaoming Building, Ling Shu said the same thing.
The aroma of broth filled the ward.
Accompanying this was the incessant news broadcasting from the television in front of the bed.
Ling Shu specifically chose financial news.
"According to insiders, the merger negotiations between the Zhao family and Temasek Holdings of Country X have stalled. Affected by the scandal, Zhao Pharmaceutical's stock price has fallen by a cumulative 37% over the past three months..."
Sheng Yunshen's physical body lay quietly on the hospital bed, while his consciousness quietly curled up in Ling Shu's mind.
He had gotten used to staying in Ling Shu's mind, listening to her every sound.
Listen to her find all sorts of opportunities to eat snacks, and listen to her occasional cheerful complaints.
With her there, the darkness is no longer unbearable.
"Dog."
Ling Shu suddenly called his name.
"Um?"
Sheng Yun Shen snapped out of his reverie.
Ling Shu asked, "Do you think Bai Yue will fall into our trap smoothly?"
Sheng Yun Shen replied, "Yes."
He didn't just say it offhand; it was the result of meticulous analysis and reasoning.
"The host's control over human nature is already superb, and she has a complete grasp of Bai Yue's greed and ambition. She has been aroused by greed and will definitely not give up."
Sheng Yunshen had to admit that even if he were to design it, he wouldn't be able to do it any better.
Ling Shu smiled and took a sip of soup: "I love chatting with you. You're so good at complimenting people, I love hearing it."
Setting down her empty instant noodle bowl, she shook her head and sighed, "I actually hoped Bai Yue wouldn't take the bait so easily and would give me a little surprise. It's just a pity that human desires are insatiable and never satisfied."
When she talked about these topics, her tone was somewhat weary.
I wonder how much hardship and trials one must have gone through to have such a state of mind.
Sheng Yun Shen remained silent for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Host, what exactly is the apocalypse like?"
He and the Sheng family heard so much of Ling Shu's heartfelt words, and they received quite a few spoilers about the apocalypse.
But he still couldn't fully imagine what the end of the world would actually look like.
"Is there any way for us to stop the end of the world from coming?"
Ling Shu did not answer immediately.
She stood up from the bedside, slowly walked to the window, and looked at the full moon in the night sky.
The moonlight was bright and flawless, like a white jade plate.
That was the moonlight she hadn't seen in the past few years.
"The end of the world began with a red moon."
Ling Shu placed her hands behind her back, her voice as calm as the night: "Two months later, when the red moon rises, half of the world's population will instantly mutate, becoming mindless, undead, and indestructible zombies. The other half, a large portion of whom will be attacked in their sleep, will also become wandering zombies."
The apocalypse described in this book is exactly the same as the apocalypse that Ling Shu once experienced.
Having lived through those days of iron and blood, she felt particularly moved by them.
"The rise of the red moon is inevitable, and no one can stop it."
Even she can't do it.
She could only do her best to stockpile supplies, hoping to survive longer in humanity's endless night, preferably until the day dawns again.
Compared to those desperate days, the days I spend growing vegetables, playing cards, and outsmarting bad guys are like paradise.
Therefore, Ling Shu cherishes every day and is very happy.
Today, Sheng Zhujun swindled a million yuan from Bai Yue, and the way she proudly presented the money to Bai Yue to show off was incredibly cute.
Once Bai Yue's matter is settled, her stockpiling plan will continue to move forward.
Daily necessities, consumables, water, electricity, weapons, armor...
There is still much to be done; what we have done now is far from enough.
Sheng Yun Shen remained silent for a long time.
He was almost speechless, unsure of what to say.
Ling Shu seemed to sense his complicated feelings and comforted him with a smile: "Are you scared, Gouzi? It's okay, I've been through it all, I've been through everything, even mutated zombies I'm not afraid. Don't worry, your host is very strong and won't die easily."
The end of the world...
Sheng Yunshen's heart sank slowly.
He couldn't let Ling Shu fight alone against the coming apocalypse.
He could help Ling Shu find a way to get everything she wanted: supplies, water, electricity, weapons...
Before the end of the world arrived, they worked together to build the Sheng family manor into the most fortified fortress in the world.
He would always be there for her.
-
Two days later, the banquet meticulously prepared by the Sheng family began as scheduled.
Guests arrived one after another.
Ling Xinyao was also in the crowd.
She seemed to have forgotten the embarrassment she had suffered at the auction, and dressed herself in dazzling jewelry, which she had won at a high price at the auction.
The tailor-made satin dress hugged her body, perfectly outlining her curves and instantly attracting the attention of everyone present.
As soon as she stepped into the banquet hall, Ling Xinyao spotted Ling Shu standing by the dessert table, and her expression changed slightly.
Ling Shu had also dressed up carefully today. She wore a smoky purple cheongsam, and on each of her fair wrists was a purple jade bracelet. The purple color was moist and clear, complementing the cheongsam.
Her updo was adorned with a purple jade hairpin, from which a string of diamond tassels swayed gently with her movements.
Clothes make the man, and with such an outfit and top-quality jewelry, Ling Shu looked even more beautiful than her.
How enviable!
A fleeting hint of jealousy flashed in Ling Xinyao's eyes. After a moment of silence, she forced a smile again.
She straightened her chest, walked over gracefully, and took the initiative to provoke him.
"Sister, what a coincidence! You've become even more beautiful in just a few days."
Ling Shu was busy sandwiching cookies when she glanced up casually and replied nonchalantly, "Good morning."
Ling Xinyao seemed oblivious to Ling Shu's perfunctory attitude and continued, "The Sheng family really has some ability; they actually managed to get President Li to come. If I hadn't wanted to meet President Li, I wouldn't have had the time to join in this fun."
As she spoke, she smiled radiantly, unable to hide the smugness in her smile.
"By the way, sister, do you know what great thing I found recently?"
"What?"
Ling Shu finally turned around and looked at her.
I mainly wanted to enjoy her performance.
Ling Xinyao raised her head, her tone proud: "I went through a lot of trouble to find out that President Li's mother used to be a student at the Beijing Academy of Fine Arts. Then I spent a lot of effort to finally find a pencil sketch she made during her school days."
"Today, I will present this piece as a gift to President Li. I think he will definitely like it."
As she spoke, she subconsciously tightened her grip on the handbag she was holding in front of her.
This incredibly precious pencil sketch was in her handbag.
Ling Shu looked Ling Xinyao up and down, couldn't help but smile, and asked directly, "You want to marry Li Yin?"
Ling Xinyao was caught off guard by Ling Shu's bluntness and paused for two seconds.
Meeting Ling Shu's ambiguous gaze, she gritted her teeth slightly and openly admitted her ambition.
"Yes, I want to marry him. I can be Sheng Yun Shen's fiancée, and of course I'm worthy of Li Yin too!"
Ling Shu: "..."
In Ling Shu's mind, Sheng Yun Shen was: "..."
I feel like my reputation has been damaged.
It's hard to say, really hard to say. All I can say is, good luck.
If Ling Xinyao had presented this so-called pencil sketch a week ago, Li Yin might have actually taken a second look at it.
Unfortunately, Ling Shu had just given him more than a dozen of his mother's paintings, each one meticulously maintained and well-preserved, far superior to any pencil sketch.
Ling Xinyao's wishful thinking is likely to fall through.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
