Chapter 57: The Canary’s Self-Cultivation (22)

Zhou Jing straightened her clothes, warned the man to leave quickly, and then hurried off. No one noticed the two people hidden in the shrubbery.

Ling Qiong sat on the ground, idly counting weeds. Shen Han Deng stood nearby, waiting until the coast was clear, then called out, “They’re gone.”

Ling Qiong tossed aside the weeds in her hand and asked, “Did you get the shot?” She had forgotten to charge her phone, so it was powered off.

Shen Han Deng handed her his phone, but just as he was about to, he thought better of it and pulled it back. “I did.”

Ling Qiong wasn’t interested in checking the photos; her eyes sparkled with gossip. “Who was that man?”

“Never seen him before.”

Ling Qiong let out a casual “Oh.” “Is this useful to you?”

“Yes.”

Since Zhou Jing wanted to get her hands on the Shen family’s business, she couldn’t afford to do anything too outrageous—including remarrying or even having a partner before she secured real power. The Shen family was a juicy target, and Shen Han Deng was hardly the only one watching her.

“As long as it’s useful, good luck, kid!” Ling Qiong was relieved and prepared to leave the bushes.

This is as far as your dad can help you!

Rustle—

Ling Qiong was pulled back, her golden hair sliding through the branches, gently falling as the hem of her dress disappeared into the green vegetation.

“You didn’t see it just now—it was wild. Almost undressed completely…”

“Did you get pictures?”

“Yes, yes, I’ll send them to you.”

Voices drifted along the path outside.

Shen Han Deng half-embraced Ling Qiong. Around them, the leaves were thick, streaks of light filtering through the gaps and dappling their bodies.

Once the people outside had walked far enough away, Shen Han Deng released her.

“How did you know Zhou Jing would be meeting someone here?” he asked.

“I didn’t.”

“Then what were you searching for?”

“Just looking around.” Ling Qiong tilted her head, “Am I not allowed to look around here?”

“…,” Shen Han Deng suddenly leaned in close, speaking quietly so only she could hear, “You’d better not let me discover your little secrets.”

Ling Qiong: “…”

Did she have any little secrets?

Ling Qiong felt she was perfectly upright, with nothing to hide.

…

Zhou Jing changed into a new outfit, chatting and laughing with guests as she received birthday wishes. The atmosphere that had been disrupted by Pei Ziqing gradually returned.

Ling Qiong urged Shen Han Deng, “You haven’t given her a birthday present yet. Why not send her those photos?”

Good things are meant to be shared.

Shouldn’t the star of the photos get a sneak preview?

Ling Qiong thought this idea was brilliant and looked expectantly at Shen Han Deng.

“No need,” he said.

Shen Han Deng hadn’t prepared any gifts at all; Zhou Jing had never received one from him before, so it wasn’t surprising.

Zhou Jing had someone distract Shen Han Deng and called Ling Qiong over.

“How are you? Anything you’re not used to?” Zhou Jing spoke in a friendly, everyday manner.

“Director Zhou, if you have something to say, just say it.” Ling Qiong’s attitude toward Zhou Jing was unpredictable, but her words were always precise, never giving anyone leverage.

Zhou Jing glanced at her. “In a little while, go to the third room on the left, on the third floor.”

“Why?”

Zhou Jing gave no explanation. “Miss Ye, you’ll know when the time comes.”

Ling Qiong suspected Zhou Jing was up to something, but she had no evidence.

Surely it wasn’t…

Shen Han Deng had been led away somewhere, so Ling Qiong had to go upstairs alone.

“The third room…” Ling Qiong counted silently, then stood at the door, glancing around.

All the guests were downstairs, the corridor deserted.

Ling Qiong pressed the handle and pushed the door open.

No one was visible inside, so she stepped further in. The door clicked shut behind her.

As she turned, a dark figure lunged at her.

“!!!”

What the hell!

Ling Qiong spun aside and kicked out, hard.

…

Shen Han Deng was pulled aside for conversation. At first, he noticed nothing unusual, but when the person kept him longer, he grew suspicious.

He barely knew this person—why so much to talk about?

Shen Han Deng abandoned the conversation, returned to the crowd, and searched for Ling Qiong.

Her phone was dead, still in his pocket, so he couldn’t call.

Nowhere to be found.

Nowhere.

She was nowhere in sight.

“Han Deng, what are you looking for?” Zhou Jing came over with a drink, smiling. “Let me introduce you to some of the company’s board members.”

Shen Han Deng frowned slightly.

Board members… Why would she let him meet them?

“I don’t want to,” he refused.

“Han Deng.” Zhou Jing shook her head in mock annoyance. “This isn’t the time for tantrums.”

Shen Han Deng was blunt. “Are you really that kind? Spare me the pretense.”

Zhou Jing wasn’t upset, just sighed, “You misunderstand me so much. When you were just a child, if not for me, the Shen family would have been scattered to the winds.”

He was tired of hearing these lines from her.

Shen Han Deng’s mind was on Ling Qiong, and he had no patience to listen.

Zhou Jing, playing the role of the concerned guardian, tried to persuade him, “Han Deng, the directors are waiting. You should meet them…”

Her voice was loud enough to draw the eyes of the nearby guests.

Everyone watched Shen Han Deng leave with a cold face, giving Zhou Jing no courtesy at all.

The directors were waiting for the heir, but he didn’t care in the least.

Zhou Jing sighed behind him, quickly attracting a few sympathetic looks.

“Some people say Director Zhou is the problem, but clearly it’s that useless kid.”

“That’s right. If she hadn’t worked so hard to keep things together, who knows what things would be like now.”

“Director Zhou is really pitiful, raising a child who isn’t even her own… and now there are issues.”

“Is there really something wrong with him? He seems normal enough to me.”

“Normal? Once, I saw him push Director Zhou into the pond—almost drowned her.”

“No way?”

“Plenty of people witnessed his episodes. Ask around, you’ll see.”

“Director Zhou really is unlucky…”

Zhou Jing watched Shen Han Deng walk away, the corners of her mouth curling before quickly flattening.

She turned to a quieter spot and made a phone call, “Keep an eye on Shen Han Deng. Don’t let him go upstairs.”

…

Unable to find Ling Qiong, Shen Han Deng felt a growing unease. Had something happened?

Buzz…

His phone vibrated—an incoming text.

[I’m in the third room on the third floor.]

The number was unfamiliar, but Shen Han Deng instinctively knew it was from Ling Qiong.

The third floor?

Shen Han Deng ran upstairs, and as he reached the third room, the door opened.

Ling Qiong hid behind the door, waving him in. “Quick, get inside.”

He entered, and the first thing he saw was a man lying on the floor, uncertain if he was dead or alive.

*

No edits today—will revise during the day, but please vote now~~