Chapter 63 Breaking Through the Heavens If the Zhao family is the heavens, then she will break through the heavens...
"Bai Yue once mentioned that there is a mysterious corner in the Zhao family's villa called 'Little Garden,' which no one except Old Master Zhao and Butler Zhang can enter."
Meanwhile, at the Sheng family manor, Ling Shu was also talking to Guan Mengxing about the Zhao family.
Guan Mengxing visited Ling Shu at the Sheng family today to thank Ling Shu for sending supplies to her home in advance during the rainstorm.
Their neighborhood was located in a low-lying area and was flooded on the day of the torrential rain. The entire underground parking garage was submerged, and half of the first floor was also flooded, making it impossible to leave the house. Ling Shu delivered a lot of supplies, and Guan Mengxing also took the initiative to give a lot to her neighbors, helping the whole building get through the difficult four days together.
Ling Shu didn't stand on ceremony and started chatting with her about the Zhao family.
At the exhibition, Mr. Zhao intended to send someone to attack Guan Zheng's booth in order to promote Yuansheng Nanotechnology. Guan Mengxing happened to be there on the way and intervened in time, thus preventing his father's booth from being smashed and injured.
Therefore, the Zhao family can be considered Guan Mengxing's "enemies".
Guan Mengxing leaned against the window, listening intently, and raised her hand like a good student who loves to listen to lectures: "So there must be something very important in the small garden!"
"right."
Ling Shu smiled, "My goal in attending this full moon banquet is to find a way to sneak into the small garden and uncover the truth hidden there."
Guan Mengxing nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, okay, our goal is to infiltrate the small garden!"
Got it!
“Wait a minute…” Ling Shu was taken aback and turned to look at her. “'We'?”
“Yes, us.” Guan Mengxing grabbed her hand and shook it playfully, “Sister Shu, I want to go too!”
Punishing evildoers sounds exciting, and Guan Mengxing, who is already bursting with a sense of justice, naturally wanted to participate in the event.
Ling Shu hesitated for a moment.
Bringing Guan Mengxing along isn't impossible, but...
"The Zhao family is no pushover. If they decide to fight to the death and cause a scene, can you protect yourself?"
Ling Shu originally planned to go alone, without even bringing Sheng Yun Shen.
I'm afraid the Zhao family might take advantage of their home field to launch a sneak attack.
Guan Mengxing clenched her fist: "Of course I can, Sister Shu! I've studied Taekwondo for ten whole years! I can definitely protect myself!"
She kicked several of those bad guys unconscious last time.
I'm not afraid of fighting at all.
Ling Shu raised her eyebrows.
She remembered that the original female protagonist also had considerable combat skills. After all, she was a female protagonist in a post-apocalyptic novel, and a weak and innocent girl like her wouldn't be up to the task.
Guan Mengxing enthusiastically recommended herself: "Besides, I'm a self-media creator. I can do live streams so netizens can watch the drama unfold in real time and see the true face of the Zhao family!"
Her words made Ling Shu's eyes light up slightly.
The power of netizens is immense. Last time, Su Ruomeng's vampire family was badly screwed over by a live stream. They thought they could lead netizens to condemn the Sheng family, but it turned into a massive mockery.
The Zhao family is a family filled with evil...
It's a perfect match for live streaming!
Guan Mengxing has a fan base, knows how to do live streaming, and can protect herself, making her the most suitable candidate.
Ling Shu finally nodded in agreement: "Okay, let's go together then."
"Yay!"
Guan Mengxing jumped up excitedly, unable to wait any longer. "Isn't the banquet just a few days away? Then I have to hurry back and prepare the equipment! Sister Shu, I'll take my leave now."
"Why……"
Ling Shu reached out her hand, intending to persuade her to stay, but seeing Guan Mengxing's eager and excited expression, she swallowed her words and smiled as she said goodbye, "Okay, keep in touch."
"Okay, Sister Shu, don't worry, I'll make sure everything is prepared perfectly!"
Guan Mengxing left full of fighting spirit.
Ling Shu was left slightly disappointed and complained to Sheng Yun Shen, "I was originally going to invite her to dinner, and also to see Chen Zui."
Chen Zui was sent out to pick up the important person Mu Ting, and she just happened to be returning today. Judging by the time, she should be back at the Sheng family soon.
Sure enough, less than half an hour after Guan Mengxing left, the servants came to report that Chenzui had returned.
Tsk, just half an hour apart, we almost missed each other.
Thinking that there would be many more opportunities in the future, Ling Shu didn't hesitate and got up to see Chen Zui.
I waited for her in the main building, completely absorbed in the moment.
He was dressed in black and stood silently by the window, the light streaming in and casting half of his shadow in the sunlight.
Upon entering the room and seeing this scene, Ling Shu couldn't help but secretly shake her head again.
Such a pleasing scene, yet the female lead didn't even notice; the male lead is at a huge loss.
Seeing her come in, Chenzui looked up, a smile spreading across her previously indifferent face: "Sister Ling."
He pointed behind him and said, "I brought her back safely, but she's in really bad shape and it's difficult to communicate with her."
A disheveled woman in a gray dress sat on the sofa, her eyes vacant, like an unresponsive puppet. Occasionally, for a fleeting moment, her expression would suddenly turn ferocious, and she would burst into shrill laughter without warning.
Her appearance was fairly pretty, but her eccentric temperament completely sealed away her beauty, making people want to keep their distance and have no intention of getting close to her.
Ling Shu slowly walked over and squatted down, her gaze level with Mu Ting's.
Mu Ting did not react to her approach, staring blankly into the void.
Ling Shu called her name softly: "Mu Ting, your brother has been missing for six years. Don't you want to see him?"
"Brother" seemed to be the key to unlock the seal, and Mu Ting finally reacted, slowly turning her head to look at Ling Shu.
Ling Shu continued softly, "Back then, you tried everything to find your brother, but you failed every time. Instead, you were labeled as mentally ill. Are you really willing to accept that?"
Mu Ting smirked, pointed at Ling Shu, and whispered maniacally, "It's useless, it's useless. The Zhao family is the sky, and we're just ants. How can ants possibly set foot in the sky? Give up, give up, and in the end you'll be just like me, slandered and locked up!"
When she heard about being slandered, Mu Ting trembled, her expression turned frightened, and she shook her head from side to side, as if she wanted to find a safe place to hide.
It seems she's had a terrible time these past few years.
"The Zhao family is the heavens... ha."
Ling Shu repeated Mu Ting's words, her tone filled with coldness.
She grasped Mu Ting's hand and spoke firmly again, "You dared to stand against the Zhao family alone back then, Mu Ting, are you afraid now?"
"Afraid……"
Mu Ting pondered the word, her expression shifting between joy and sorrow.
She turned to look at Ling Shu's side, her emotions suddenly turning to anger, and said through gritted teeth, "Mom, I'm not sick, I'm really not sick! Believe me, my brother isn't missing, he's dead!"
There was clearly nothing around Ling Shu; what Mu Ting saw was merely a hallucination in her mind.
She changed direction again, her face full of pleading: "Dad, please don't lock me up. I'm really not mentally ill. I just want to find out the cause of my brother's death. The Zhao family is slandering me!"
Unsure of what the phantom "said," Mu Ting's eyes widened, filled with despair.
Large tears streamed down her face.
She said haltingly, "How much money did the Zhao family give you? How could you be so willing to sell your own son and daughter?"
Mu Ting's tone was so sorrowful that even Chen Zui next to her turned away, unable to bear watching any longer.
From her frantic reactions, one can vaguely glimpse what exactly happened six years ago.
He explained to Ling Shu, "The Li family found her in a dilapidated mental hospital. It is said that she was sent there by her parents six years ago. For the first two years, her parents would occasionally come to see her, but after that, they stopped coming and left her to fend for herself."
Chen Zui scoffed lightly, her tone smug, "They didn't even manage to have a child; they ruined themselves. Apparently, her father got hooked on gambling after being swindled by a conman, lost all their family fortune, and ended up owing tens of millions. In a fit of anger, he dragged her mother and jumped off a building to commit suicide."
Ling Shu frowned.
Mu Ting's story was not described in detail in the original book, but only mentioned briefly. Even she did not know that Mu Ting was so tragic.
All of this is just one of the many bloody crimes committed by the Zhao family over the past ten years.
The Zhao family's wealth was accumulated over blood and corpses. But they acted so secretly that no clues could be found. Even Sheng Yun Shen's car accident was untraceable, making it impossible to determine how the Zhao family had acted so stealthily.
Only a family so despicable deserves the bloody yet exciting ending depicted in the book.
Now that the apocalypse is over, the fate of the Zhao family can only be written by Ling Shu herself.
The only breakthrough point lies with Mu Ting.
Thinking of this, Ling Shu gripped Mu Ting's hand tightly and raised her voice: "Mu Ting! Your parents are dead. No one in this world can stop you now!"
Perhaps what truly drove Mu Ting mad back then was not her brother's death, nor the Zhao family's power, but the betrayal and abandonment from her parents.
The knife stabbed by the person closest to you hurts the most.
Sure enough, upon hearing the news of her parents' death, Mu Ting calmed down again.
She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, murmuring to herself, "...Dead? Then...can I ask the Zhao family for the truth again?"
“Of course we can,” Ling Shu replied solemnly. “We’ll go with you to find out the truth.”
Mu Ting slowly looked at her. This time, Mu Ting's gaze finally contained some substance, as if it were the first time she was seriously "looking" at Ling Shu.
"……Who are you?"
Ling Shu tilted her head and thought for a moment, then decided to act a bit childish and said very seriously, "I am... someone who will shatter the heavens."
If the Zhao family is the sky, then she will shatter the sky and crush the Zhao family.
Caught off guard by the childishness, Sheng Yun Shen scoffed.
The rapt attention of the bystander suddenly brightened: "!"
Sister Ling is so cool!
Mu Ting was clearly shocked by the answer. She stared wide-eyed for a while, then shook her head and replied decisively, "I don't believe it."
Ling Shu: "..."
As expected, this book wasn't some kind of melodramatic, hot-blooded novel; even the mentally unstable Mu Ting didn't believe her.
She coughed and put it another way, "I'm even richer than the Zhao family, and I'm extremely unhappy with them, so I've gone to great lengths to find you and ask you to help me bring them down."
Fearing that Mu Ting still wouldn't believe her, Ling Shu raised her hand, gesturing for her to look at the luxurious main building lobby behind her: "Look, this is my home. Look at the decor, look at the style, and you can tell me whether I'm rich or not."
Mu Ting stared blankly around, her eyes revealing deep thought.
A few minutes later, she looked back at Ling Shu, her eyes seeming to clear up a bit: "Yes, you have money. I believe you."
Ling Shu: "…………"
Sheng Yun Shen: "...Tsk."
His eyes shone even brighter with intoxication: "!!"
Sister Ling is amazing, she got it done in just a few words!
Having convinced Mu Ting with her money, Ling Shu instructed the servants to take her to rest. She raised her hand to rub her temples and looked at Chen Zui.
"The Zhao family..."
Without hesitation, Chen Zui said, "I want to go too. Mu Ting is not fully conscious and needs someone to protect her, which is perfect for me."
Ling Shu thought about it and realized that was indeed the case.
Given Mu Ting's current situation, she would likely have difficulty protecting herself and would need someone she trusts to protect her closely. Chen Zui has a foundation in martial arts and is very skilled; he wouldn't be at a disadvantage even in a one-on-many situation.
Since that's the case, she didn't stand on ceremony and nodded with a smile: "Okay, get ready, we'll act together then."
Whether you're awake or intoxicated, you're gone.
Rounding up, this can be considered the first time the male and female protagonists in the original book officially cooperated in an operation.
cool!
Then she wouldn't need to rack her brains to figure out how to make the two of them meet for the first time. They would all be comrades-in-arms and could quickly develop a revolutionary friendship. How wonderful!
-
Amidst the busy preparations of the Zhao and Sheng families, the day for the full-moon celebration arrived as scheduled.
Early in the morning, guests arrived in droves at the Zhao family's gate, many of whom had come from afar just to share in the Zhao family's joy.
Zhao Lixin, dressed in a sharp suit, stood at the entrance to greet the distinguished guests, chatting and laughing with them with ease, his every move displaying the demeanor of a host.
He enjoyed the occasion and the flattery from the crowd.
I don't feel tired even after two or three hours straight.
At noon, the cars from the Sheng and Li families drove into the Zhao family's house one after the other, as if they had arranged it in advance.
With just a glance at the license plate, the Zhao family's gatekeeper recognized the visitors and hurriedly relayed the message over the walkie-talkie: "The Sheng family and the Li family have arrived."
The servant who was standing next to Zhao Lixin quickly stepped forward and told Zhao Lixin the news.
Zhao Lixin's smile faded slightly, but he still maintained the proper politeness and demeanor: "Please come in quickly."
All visitors are guests, and they can't cause any trouble on Zhao's turf.
As soon as the car came to a stop, several servants rushed to greet it.
Ling Shu and Guan Mengxing, dressed in formal attire, got out of the car together, with Li Yin following closely behind them like a silent and reliable bodyguard.
The old butler, who had been waiting nearby, stepped forward with a smile: "Mr. Li, Mrs. Sheng, welcome, please come in."
His tone seemed casual, but he had already subtly ranked the three people's identities.
The most important thing, of course, is to completely control Li Yin of the Li family.
Secondly, there is Sheng Yun Shen's wife, Ling Shu.
Guan Mengxing frowned slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with his deliberate neglect.
Ling Shu comforted her by taking her arm and nodded slightly to the old housekeeper: "Thank you for your trouble."
As for Li Yin, he didn't even give the old butler a second glance, focusing solely on following behind Ling Shu.
The old butler, still smiling, seemed oblivious to everything as he ushered them inside: "The banquet won't begin for a while yet. Would you three like to rest in the VIP room for a bit?"
Ling Shu shook her head: "No need, we'll just wander around."
"yes."
The old butler waved his hand and called over a male servant, "You stay with President Li and Madam Sheng and make sure to entertain our distinguished guests well."
It's nominally a service, but in reality, it's surveillance.
Ling Shu and the others didn't pay any attention and strolled around the Zhao family's house at will, letting the male servants follow behind them.
"Mr. Li, what a coincidence! You're here too."
"Hello, Mr. Li."
"President Li..."
As soon as the three of them stepped into the banquet hall, guests kept coming up to Li Yin to chat.
Li Yin had no choice but to stop and look at Ling Shu with some regret.
Ling Shu gave him a reassuring look, then took Guan Mengxing's arm and left.
The male servant hesitated for a moment, then chose to continue following behind Ling Shu.
Before arriving, Ling Shu and Guan Mengxing had already looked at the floor plan and knew the exact location of the legendary, inaccessible "small garden" of the Zhao family. They chatted and laughed, seemingly casual, but in reality, they were gradually approaching the small garden.
As they walked, Ling Shu chatted with the male servant for a few moments: "By the way, I overheard some guests talking about how Old Zhao went through three major hurdles, but he turned each one into a blessing in disguise, even rising to a higher level. Could you tell me the details?"
The male servant, a trusted confidant of the old housekeeper, was well aware of Old Zhao's rise to wealth and proudly replied, "Madam Sheng is also interested in this? Then I'll make a fool of myself."
"The first hurdle was when Mr. Zhao was young. He worked in a factory and worked his way up to the management level, where he was highly regarded by the factory manager. Everyone assumed he would be the next factory manager, but unfortunately, a safety accident happened in the department he was in charge of, and Mr. Zhao had to resign and go into business."
"At the time, many factory workers laughed at him for failing at the last minute. Who would have thought that the factory would suddenly go bankrupt the following year, and all employees would be laid off, while Mr. Zhao's business would grow bigger and bigger."
"The second hurdle was ten years ago when Mr. Zhao was venturing into Beijing and negotiating a very important deal. If it went through, the Zhao family would be able to firmly establish itself in Beijing. Who knew that the deal would fall apart, the contract wouldn't be secured, and instead, it would be snatched away by a competitor."
"When the competitor was doing well, the partner suddenly ran into trouble and withdrew its investment, and all the money already invested went down the drain. The company never recovered and went bankrupt two years later. Meanwhile, Mr. Zhao secured a better contract and successfully established himself in Beijing."
"The third hurdle was six years ago. At that time, one of the Zhao family's real estate projects suddenly ran into problems and almost stopped construction. Mr. Zhao worked tirelessly on the construction site with the workers for three months before finally resolving the issue. As for the name of this project, you should know it is one of the most famous villa areas in Beijing today, with a unit price as high as 300,000 yuan per square meter."
After the male servant finished explaining the three major hurdles in Mr. Zhao's life, Ling Shu slowed her pace and asked casually, "I heard that in the year of the first hurdle, Mr. Zhao's eldest daughter was born, so he doted on her and thought she was his little lucky star?"
The male servant paused, somewhat awkwardly: "...Yes, it's just a pity that Miss Li'en is not in good health..."
"She passed away about ten years ago, right? Right around the time of her second major setback?"
Ling Shu asked again.
The male servant's smile faded, not wanting to discuss the topic: "I'm sorry, Madam Sheng, Mr. Zhao has always been heartbroken over Miss Li'en's passing and usually forbids us from talking about it."
Ling Shu smiled and didn't press further: "Oh."
As the conversation ended, the male servant looked up and realized that, without realizing it, the three of them had strayed further and further off course, not far from the Zhao family's forbidden "small garden."
The male servant frowned slightly, instinctively sensing something was wrong.
The small garden is a forbidden area; we should never have led guests there!
He forced a polite smile, stopped, and tried to change direction: "Madam Sheng, snakes often appear in the garden in front and have bitten people before, so we don't go there often. Why don't we take another route? The scenery over there is more beautiful."
Ling Shu seemed thoughtful: "If there are snakes around, the ecological environment must be very good, right? I'd like to go and take a look, and learn how you maintain the garden, is that alright?"
She smiled, her eyes crinkling, "It's okay, I'm not afraid of snakes."
"Forehead……"
The male servant tried to refuse, saying, "You are a distinguished guest. I can't bear the responsibility if you get hurt..."
He had only spoken halfway when a voice suddenly came from the walkie-talkie tucked into his waistband.
"Attention everyone! Attention everyone! There's an emergency outside the main gate. Please assemble outside immediately!"
The male servant's expression changed, and he picked up the walkie-talkie, looking somewhat hesitant.
Ling Shu and Guan Mengxing exchanged a glance, a smile flashing in their eyes.
It seems Mu Ting has already arrived at the Zhao family's doorstep.
The male servant was still hesitating when another voice came from the walkie-talkie: "Get to the door quickly. Everyone who heard this, get to the door and wait!"
Ling Shu smiled slightly and said generously, "Go ahead, we'll just wander around the area, we won't go anywhere."
The male servant looked towards the small garden.
Security there is very tight; no one except those who know the password can get in. Ling Shu and Guan Mengxing are just two weak women; they shouldn't be able to cause any trouble. The person on the walkie-talkie is urging them so urgently; something serious must have happened. After weighing the options, the male servant finally decided to follow the instructions on the walkie-talkie and head to the door.
He bowed apologetically: "Excuse me, Madam Sheng, I must take my leave for now."
After apologizing, he turned and hurriedly walked away, quickly disappearing at the end of the path.
After confirming that he had left, Ling Shu tugged at Guan Mengxing's sleeve: "Let's go."
They continued walking towards the small garden. As they got closer to it, Ling Shu smiled slightly and looked at Guan Mengxing: "It's your turn."
"Mm." Guan Mengxing nodded, took out her phone, turned on the live stream, and pointed it at the garden of the Zhao family villa.
As a blogger with a large following, many netizens clicked in as soon as the live stream started.
Upon seeing the exquisitely decorated, deserted garden in the video, netizens raised numerous questions.
【? Am I seeing things? Is this Xingxing's live stream?】
[Where's Wake Up? I thought you were going to share your experiences with us again today.]
[Where is this? It looks very glamorous.]
Guan Mengxing said into the microphone, "Hello everyone, I'm here today with my friends to attend a banquet at a famous high-class family in Beijing. I'd like to show you all what life is like in a wealthy family."
The Zhao family held the banquet to enhance their reputation; they didn't prohibit guests from livestreaming. Just now, the two women encountered several female internet celebrities livestreaming, showing off the Zhao family's luxurious decor. There was even a blond male internet celebrity livestreaming, striking poses for the camera—they didn't know who brought him in.
However, those people started live streaming to attract followers, and the camera was always pointed at their own faces, but Guan Mengxing did not appear on camera, instead pointing the camera at the scenery in front of her.
Many netizens left confused comments in the live stream.
Did I hear that right? Wake up! Are you trying to switch to the flaunting-wealth route?
【Hey, I know this banquet! I saw it on another influencer's live stream; it seems to be a full-moon celebration for the wealthy Zhao family!】
[Pah, what feminist blogger? Turns out it's just a persona created to gain followers. Unfollowed!]
I feel the same way; I'm suddenly a little disappointed.
Ling Shu leaned closer and looked at the comments scrolling across Guan Mengxing's phone screen. She wasn't in a hurry, but instead smiled and said to Guan Mengxing, "Xingxing, the maid said there seems to be something going on at the door. Should we go and see?"
Guan Mengxing immediately replied, "That wouldn't be a good idea. What if it affects other people?"
Ling Shu thought for a moment and said, "Okay, let's continue exploring."
The two continued walking forward.
The more netizens looked at it, the more confused they became.
What happened at the entrance? Why didn't you go check?
[...I can see that Xingxing is really strolling in the garden. So, is she really showing us what life in a wealthy family is like?]
[Hilarious! What accident? Is it scripted? What mansion? Is it rented?]
[You guys hurry and check out Brother Huang's livestream! He's at the Zhao family's doorstep! Someone's really causing trouble!]
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