The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 185. Meeting, something happened

Chapter 185: 185. Meeting, something happened

Beijing’s renowned Juxian Manor, Fu Fanghua and Fang Chengzhi were sitting in a private room quietly drinking tea, but their expressions were truly unpleasant, especially Fu Fanghua, whose face was almost unsightly.

She glanced at the time on her phone again, "Tongtong, when exactly is he going to arrive?"

Fang Tong was looking down, busy sending a message to Ding Minghui. Today was the arranged meeting between Ding Minghui and her parents. The meeting was initially set for half-past eleven, but now it was past twelve, and Ding Minghui still hadn’t arrived.

Ding Minghui replied swiftly to her message, stating he was stuck in a traffic jam halfway here and was currently making his way over.

"Mom, he got caught in a traffic jam. You’re not unaware of how the traffic is in Beijing, it’s often congested. It’s not like he wanted to be stuck, and right now, he’s rushing here on his own," Fang Tong spoke up for Ding Minghui.

Fu Fanghua snorted coldly, "It’s not his first day in Beijing, doesn’t he know the traffic conditions here? Knowing that today he would meet his girlfriend’s parents, why didn’t he set off earlier? He has no sense of planning. Is this how he operates at work as well?"

Listening to her mother criticize Ding Minghui again made Fang Tong quite unhappy, "Mom, can you say less? It’s just a little delay, it doesn’t matter, what’s wrong with waiting?" Although she was also dissatisfied that Ding Minghui was late on such an important day, she still needed to defend his dignity in front of her parents.

Fang Chengzhi chuckled, "Alright, let’s wait then, it’s not a big deal."

Fu Fanghua fell silent, so I’m the bad guy, huh? You’re all the saints, good Samaritans. With an eye roll and feeling unappreciated, she thought, who am I even doing this for, this ungrateful father and daughter?

The door of the private room was knocked, and Fang Tong stood up to open it. Ding Minghui appeared at the door, panting heavily. Despite the chilly winter, he was drenched in sweat. He was also carrying several bags.

Fang Tong glared at him fiercely, then stepped aside to let him in.

"Sorry... sorry, uncle and aunt, for my lateness," Ding Minghui bowed, apologizing to Fang Chengzhi and Fu Fanghua.

"No problem, no problem. You aren’t that late. Please, take a seat," Fang Chengzhi said with a warm smile.

Ding Minghui handed the bags to Fang Tong, "These are some local products from my hometown, nothing particularly valuable. They are just for you and uncle to try something new, I hope you don’t disdain them."

Fu Fanghua gave a smile, though her eyes lacked any smile, "It’s the thought that counts, take a seat."

Ding Minghui took off his coat, hung it up, and then sat down opposite them.

Fang Chengzhi passed him the menu, "Order whatever you like."

Ding Minghui didn’t take it, "Uncle, I’m not picky about food, you order is fine."

Fang Chengzhi didn’t insist, ordered a few dishes, and handed the menu to the waiter.

"I’ve always heard about you from Fang Tong, but never had the chance to meet. I heard you’re working at Junlan Group now?" Fang Chengzhi asked, his voice gentle.

At first, Ding Minghui was quite nervous when he met Fang Chengzhi and Fu Fanghua. Observing their attire, and the faces that looked much younger than his own parents despite being about the same age, he could tell they led a rather comfortable life, which inevitably made him feel somewhat inferior.

But the gentle manner of Fang Chengzhi eased his tension considerably, reaffirming what Fang Tong had said: her parents were easy to get along with.

"Yes, once I graduate in June, I can officially become a permanent staff member," Ding Minghui politely replied. In reality, had he not been awaiting graduation, he would have already secured a permanent position.

"You’re planning to stay and develop your career in Beijing?" Fu Fanghua began.

Ding Minghui glanced at Fang Tong and smiled as he spoke, "Yes, there’s someone I care about here."

Upon hearing this, Fang Tong’s ears turned slightly red, and the corners of her mouth gently curved upwards.

Fu Fanghua looked at her daughter, thinking she’s really hopeless, and turned back to Ding Minghui, "Since you plan to stay in Beijing, you must have a plan for the future, right? Would you mind sharing it?"

"Of course, I’m currently working at Junlan Group. After I graduate, I can become a full-time employee, and my salary will double. I’ll be able to support the life that Fang Tong and I want," Ding Minghui said calmly, detailing his plans for the future, especially his vision for his life with Fang Tong.

Fang Chengzhi and Fu Fanghua listened intently until Ding Minghui finished, then Fu Fanghua asked, "Did you say you’re planning to take out a loan to buy a house after working for three to five years?"

Ding Minghui nodded, looking somewhat embarrassed, "Yes. Uncle, aunt, you may not be very familiar with my family situation. We are from a rural village, and the economic conditions aren’t great. It wasn’t easy for my parents to put me through university. I can’t expect them to pay for my wedding and a house, and since I’ll just be starting out with little savings, I can’t afford to buy a house yet. So I plan to work hard these next few years, save diligently, and gather enough for the down payment."

"Do you have any other siblings at home?" Fu Fanghua did not comment on his plan but shifted the conversation to a different topic.

"I have a younger sister, who is already working."

"Your sister started working so early?" Fu Fanghua asked, surprised.

Ding Minghui’s smile faltered a bit, "Yes... She didn’t get into university, and since our family’s economic situation could only support one child’s education, so..."

Fu Fanghua nodded, not pressing further on the subject. Instead, she said, "Her father and I only have Tongtong as our child. We’ve always tried to give her whatever she wanted, never letting her suffer. She’s never even washed a dish. There was a time I worried that we might spoil her, but fortunately, Tongtong is a sensible girl. Though she might be a bit extravagant with money, she’s good in every other aspect. But girls should be raised in comfort, don’t you think?"

The expressions on both Ding Minghui’s and Fang Tong’s faces turned unpleasant. Fang Tong was angry, shooting her mother a glance, What’s the point of saying this?

Fu Fanghua returned the glance, What do you mean, what’s the point? If it weren’t for you, would I even be saying this?

Ding Minghui had anticipated that Fang Tong’s parents might not think him suitable and had prepared himself psychologically. After all, it was evident that his family’s situation did not match up to Fang Tong’s. But actually facing it was still embarrassingly painful, like a well-hidden scar suddenly being exposed to the sun.

Although Fu Fanghua had not uttered a single harsh word, every sentence implied how privileged Fang Tong’s life was, and that Ding Minghui couldn’t provide the same for her.

"Aunt, I know that I’m currently not capable enough to provide Fang Tong with a good life. She might even hesitate to buy a bag that costs several thousand yuan if she’s with me now. But I promise, I will work hard so that in the future, Fang Tong won’t have to hesitate about money, and she can buy whatever she wishes," Ding Minghui said earnestly. He was sincere about Fang Tong; he wanted to be with her.

Fang Tong, moved to her core, held Ding Minghui’s hand under the table and gave him a smile, which instantly steadied his heart.

Did Fu Fanghua not notice their little movement? Unlikely. She was nearly infuriated by her daughter, always bending the elbow outwards.

"What you’re saying is that my Tongting should wait for you? For how long? Three or five years? A girl’s youth is precious and doesn’t last long. Are you suggesting she should wait until she’s no longer attractive?" Fu Fanghua finally began to lose her patience, not seeing Fang Chengzhi trying to calm her down. Some people will never understand unless you spell it out for them.

"Mom," Fang Tong called out in displeasure. What’s the point of saying these things now? She truly cared for Ding Minghui and was willing to wait for him. Couldn’t you speak without being so offensive, making it awkward for her to face Ding Minghui in the future?

"Aunt, it won’t be like that. I won’t let Fang Tong wait for nothing. I will marry her, and if you agree, we can get married right after I graduate. Although we might not be able to afford our own house for the first few years and have to rent, I believe things will get better as we go along," promised Ding Minghui.

"Son," Fang Chengzhi spoke up with a gentle tone, "It’s not that your aunt and I don’t believe you, but as your aunt said, what guarantee can you offer? We’re not being snobbish, but think about it from our perspective. If you had a daughter, would you feel comfortable marrying her off to someone who has nothing?"

Even her father spoke in such a way that Fang Tong was saddened to tears; she thought at least her dad supported her.

Ding Minghui couldn’t manage to smile anymore, "Uncle, I know no matter what I say or do now, you won’t believe me, but I still want to say this: I will work hard to create better living conditions for Fang Tong. Not in five years, no, within three years, I will definitely buy a house in Beijing with Fang Tong’s name as the sole owner. You might not believe me when I say this, but I will still show you."

Ding Minghui stood up and bowed to Fu Fanghua and Fang Chengzhi, "I have disturbed you today, so I shall take my leave now. Goodbye, Uncle and Aunt."

Having said that, Ding Minghui indeed got up to leave without even eating, hurrying away.

Fang Tong glanced at the back of Ding Minghui as he departed, wanting to chase after him, but looking at her parents, rage flared in her heart, "Dad, Mom, how can you speak about him like that? He has put in so much effort, a thousand times, no, ten thousand times more than Li Bomming, whom you speak so highly of. The only difference between him and Li Bomming is his background. If he had Li Bomming’s background, his achievements would surely surpass those of Li Bomming by now. Have you considered his feelings when you talk about him this way?"

"If he had Li Bomming’s background I would definitely not object, but does he? Apart from empty talk, what does he have? He wants you to wait for him for three to five years. Fang Tong, my stance remains the same—I do not agree with your relationship," Fu Fanghua was even more furious than Fang Tong.

Stamping her foot, Fang Tong retorted, "Even if you don’t agree, I still want to be with him. Even if he’s a poor man with nothing to his name, I love him, and I’m determined to marry him."

Fang Tong ran out; she wanted to go and explain to Ding Minghui.

Fu Fanghua was shaken by her daughter’s anger, trembling all over, but her daughter had already run off, leaving her with nowhere to vent her frustration. Her husband became the unfortunate collateral, "Fang Chengzhi, look at the fine daughter you’ve raised, what kind of things is she saying? I’m being materialistic, for whose sake am I being materialistic? For myself?"

Fang Chengzhi patted his wife’s back, "Calm down, don’t you know Tongtong’s temperament? You’re still provoking her. She and that boy won’t last long, don’t worry."

Half of Fu Fanghua’s anger suddenly died down, looking at her husband with suspicion, "What do you mean by that, what does ’they won’t last long’ mean?"

Fang Chengzhi smiled but remained silent, "You just need to know that they won’t last. The food has been ordered; it’d be a waste not to eat. Let’s have our meal."

"You’re still in the mood to eat?" Fu Fanghua glared at him irritatedly.

"I do have the appetite to eat, and you shouldn’t overthink it. Tongtong is a smart girl, she might not understand now, but eventually she will. Let’s eat, didn’t you say you were hungry?"

"I can’t eat, I’m full from anger."

Fang Chengzhi simply continued with his meal without minding her.

Fang Tong caught up with Ding Minghui just as he was at the door, settling the bill at the counter. The meal cost him over eighteen hundred yuan, which was a third of his intern salary. Pretending he did not mind the expense would be a lie.

"Minghui."

Ding Minghui heard someone calling him from behind and stopped in his tracks, seeing that it was Fang Tong, "Why did you come out?"

"I’m coming with you."

Ding Minghui managed a smile, "I’m fine. You go back and have dinner with Uncle and Aunt, I was about to head back to the company for some overtime."

Fang Tong grasped Ding Minghui’s sleeve, not letting him leave, "Minghui, don’t mind what my parents said. They just... they had no ill intentions."

Ding Minghui’s expression was gentle, "I know, Uncle and Aunt are just concerned about you, worried that you might suffer with me. I understand that. If I were them, I’d worry too. I didn’t take it to heart. It’s too cold outside, and you didn’t even wear a coat. Go back inside so you don’t catch a cold."

"You’re really not angry?"

Ding Minghui shook his head, "Not angry, go inside quickly. I’m leaving now." Saying that, he kissed Fang Tong on the forehead and then turned to leave.

But as soon as he turned around, the smile on his face disappeared. He was a proud man, perhaps due to his upbringing from childhood, his self-esteem was also a bit stronger than others.

The words spoken by Fang Tong’s parents today had truly affected him; they looked down on him, but he was determined to one day prove himself and show that Fang Tong’s choice to be with him was not a mistake.

Fang Tong returned to the private room, still unhappy, grabbed her coat and purse, and left without saying goodbye to her parents. Fu Fanghua was still angry and didn’t bother with her, acting as if she hadn’t seen anything. Honestly, it was as if her daughter had been raised in vain.

**

Shen Qinglan woke up feeling uncomfortable this morning and, sure enough, upon checking in the bathroom, her period had begun.

As she left the bathroom, her phone rang. It was Fu Hengyi calling, "Hello?"

"Have you gotten up yet?" Fu Hengyi asked. He had guessed the time, hoping not to disturb her sleep.

"Yeah, I’ve been up for a while." She didn’t mention that she had just woken up, having drawn until four in the morning last night, only to be awakened shortly after by a stomachache.

Fu Hengyi knew she occasionally painted at night but didn’t allow her to stay up late, so to avoid his nagging, she simply didn’t tell him.

"Is it your period?" Fu Hengyi suddenly asked.

Shen Qinglan picked up her phone and glanced at it. Was this guy psychic?

She kept silent, but Fu Hengyi could guess. He laughed and asked, "Are you at the compound or at home?"

"At home."

"There’s a hand warmer in the second drawer to the left of the bedside table at home. Remember to plug it in later, and I’ve left Brown Sugar Water in the fridge. Make sure you make yourself a cup to drink."

Holding the phone, Shen Qinglan listened to Fu Hengyi detailing everything meticulously, a faint smile forming at the corner of her mouth.

"I’ve already contacted that old Chinese medicine practitioner, and she will be back from out of town in a week. I’ve set up an appointment for you; let Aunt Zhao accompany you then," Fu Hengyi concluded.

"It’s not necessary; I can go on my own. Just send me the address."

"If you don’t want Aunt Zhao accompanying you, then ask a friend to go with you," insisted Fu Hengyi, thinking she was just shy about it.

Seeing his insistence, Shen Qinglan could only nod.

However, when the day came, Shen Qinglan failed to make it to the doctor. By then, she was already in a remote small town in the west, merely a hundred meters away from Fu Hengyi.

After ending the call with Fu Hengyi, Shen Qinglan first had breakfast, then made herself a cup of Brown Sugar Water with ginger. Remembering Fu Hengyi’s nagging, she went to the bedroom, got the hand warmer, charged it, and placed it on her stomach. It truly eased her discomfort considerably; even her pale complexion seemed to gain a touch of rosiness.

In the afternoon, Shen Qinglan went to school. She first visited the counselor’s office and then went to see her advisor to hand in her foreign language translations and graduation thesis.

This was Shen Qinglan’s first appearance on campus since her identity was exposed, and it instantly caused a sensation. Someone had posted her photo on the forum, and everyone knew she had returned.

The mentor casually flipped through her foreign language translation, changing from indifferent at first to surprised later. He glanced at Shen Qinglan and pointed to the manuscript in his hand, "How much time did you spend translating this article?"

Shen Qinglan thought about it, "Half an hour." It took a little time to type out each character.

The mentor grew even more surprised. Did she translate directly after reading it once?

"Is your English very good?" If her English wasn’t good, it probably wouldn’t be possible to do it so quickly.

"It’s okay." English was as natural to her as her mother tongue, it wasn’t a matter of good or bad.

The mentor took her humility for modesty, as he already knew the identity of the person before him, the daughter of the Beijing Shen Family, the renowned painter Leng Qingqiu.

"My daughter is a big fan of your paintings. She has been nagging to meet you ever since she came back from your exhibition, knowing you’re my student. I wonder if Shen would be willing to see her?"

Putting the manuscript aside, the mentor brought up another matter, his face full of a kind smile.

Throughout more than three years of university, this mentor, who was also her department head, had taken good care of her. Even when she occasionally skipped his classes, he never held it against her, and during the scandal of the sponsorship fiasco, he pleaded for her in the principal’s office. Although Shen Qinglan was indifferent to the rumors, she appreciated his kindness.

"This weekend, I’ll invite Teacher Zhang and your daughter for a meal to thank you for your care all these years," said Shen Qinglan in a cool tone.

The mentor smiled, "I should be the one inviting you, as I’m the elder after all."

Shen Qinglan graciously agreed and set a time with the mentor before leaving the office.

As soon as she stepped out of the mentor’s office, she was greeted by a pressing crowd, young faces all bearing fervent gazes focused on her.

Shen Qinglan kept her composure, but inside she felt a slight chill. What was going on?

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Senior Qinglan, could I get a photo and an autograph?" a girl asked timidly, holding a phone and a notebook in her hands.

"Sorry, I don’t take photos with people," Shen Qinglan declined, noticing the clear disappointment on the girl’s face, "But I can sign an autograph for you."

Before the disappointment could fade, the girl’s face was overwhelmed with ecstasy, "Really?"

Without waiting for Shen Qinglan to nod, she hurriedly handed over the pen and notebook. Shen Qinglan took them, opened the notebook, and signed her name, inscribing it as Leng Qingqiu.

"Senior Qinglan, thank you. I’m from the art department, and you’re my favorite painter," said the girl, her excitement undeniable and her gaze at Shen Qinglan growing more fervent and admiring.

Seeing this, others surged forward eagerly. "Senior Qinglan, I want an autograph too."

"Me too."

"Back off, I was here first. Senior Qinglan, I like you."

"What do you mean you were first? It was clearly me. Senior Qinglan, I also like you, I’m your loyal fan."

The scene became chaotic, with voices chattering all around. Shen Qinglan felt a headache coming on and frowned slightly.

Suddenly someone shouted, "Stop arguing, you’ll upset Senior Qinglan!" The place immediately quieted down, a multitude of eyes fixed on Shen Qinglan.

Finally, some peace. Shen Qinglan breathed a sigh of relief. She was used to attracting attention because of her looks, but fan behavior like this was new to her, and she felt a bit overwhelmed.

She scanned the crowd and softly asked, "Do all of you want a photo or an autograph with me?"

The group nodded in unison, one of them speaking up, "Most of us are from the School of Fine Arts, we all love your paintings. We heard you were at the school today, so we wanted to meet you. We are your fans."

The others nodded in agreement; that was exactly it.

"Photos are out of the question, and you can’t take pictures, but I can sign autographs for you, as long as you stay orderly and quiet. Is that okay?" Shen Qinglan negotiated, though she wouldn’t normally agree to such a request.

"Of course, we’ll be absolutely quiet." The crowd spontaneously lined up in an orderly fashion, waiting for Shen Qinglan to sign autographs for each of them.

By the time Shen Qinglan had signed something for everyone, an hour had passed. She rubbed her slightly sore wrist and quickly left the school before anyone else could notice.

Upon returning home, she got in touch with Daniel and asked him to send over a few paintings she had requested.

"Qinglan, the exhibition isn’t over yet. Isn’t it a bit improper to take them down now?" Daniel disapproved, knowing that these paintings were likely meant as gifts, but it wouldn’t hurt to wait a couple more days, would it?

However, Shen Qinglan insisted, and Daniel had no choice but to agree.

No sooner had she hung up the phone than it rang again, this time with an unfamiliar number from overseas. Shen Qinglan’s eyes paused, having a hunch, and she answered.

It was Jin Enxi calling, "An, something bad has happened." Despite trying to sound calm, Shen Qinglan could hear the panic in her voice.

Her heart sank, "What happened?"

As Jin Enxi explained the situation, Shen Qinglan’s heart sank further, "I’ll book a flight immediately. Don’t do anything rash, and wait for me in Country Y."

"Okay," Jin Enxi responded.

After hanging up, Shen Qinglan made a call to Old Sir Fu, mentioning that she wanted to go abroad for a couple of days. Old Sir Fu didn’t say much and agreed with a wave of his hand.

Shen Qinglan took nothing but her passport and left. She booked the fastest flight while on her way and flew directly to Country Y.

Upon landing, it was Jin Enxi who picked her up. "An, I’m sorry for keeping this from you for so long."

With an icy expression, Shen Qinglan replied, "We’ll talk about this matter later. Let’s go to the hospital now."

Jin Enxi nodded and sped off in the car. Soon, they arrived at a private hospital. In the intensive care unit, they saw the man who had been with Jin Enxi last time—Andre.

Andre looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes and pale skin, his beard unkempt, a bedraggled sight. Seeing Shen Qinglan, he showed a regretful expression, "An, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to drag you into this, but in the end..."

Shen Qinglan waved it off, her eyes moving to the woman lying in the bed, covered in tubes, "How is Cissily doing?"

Andre wiped his face, "The doctor said she’s out of danger now, but there’s no telling when she will wake up." He paused, his expression pained, "But the child in her belly didn’t make it."

That was his child, he and Cissily were lovers and partners. Since they had left that organization, one had entered the entertainment business and the other had become a model. Their careers were at their peak, and though they had been in love for many years, no one outside knew about it. Their secrecy had been impeccable. Just a month ago, he had learned of Cissily’s pregnancy. They had planned to go public with their relationship and then get married, but then that incident happened. Cissily suffered severe injuries. While her life was saved, the child was gone.

Shen Qinglan was silent, glancing at the unconscious Cissily, she spoke in a deep voice, "Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

Andre hung his head, his voice hoarse from what must have been many days without rest, "An, you’re different from us. Your current identity simply isn’t suited for getting involved in these kinds of things."

Shen Qinglan grabbed Andre by his collar, her fist landing heavily on his abdomen. Andre bent over in pain. When Shen Qinglan released him, he collapsed to the ground. Looking down at him from above, her expression icy, she asked, "Andre, what do you take me for that I’m not worth trusting in your eyes?"

Shen Qinglan’s blow had been merciless, and Andre struggled to get up, coughing as he lay there. Jin Enxi was anxious but dared not intervene, knowing full well that keeping the secret from An would enrage her. And an enraged An was terrifying, not someone to be trifled with lightly.

A trickle of blood came from the corner of Andre’s mouth. He wiped it away without any signs of resentment or anger, attempting to stand up, "An, you have always been our most trusted partner, but since you’ve already left, we didn’t want you to stain your hands with blood again. Enxi said your family and husband are good to you. What would you do if they found out about your past?"

He glanced at Jin Enxi, "If it weren’t for Jin Enxi calling you behind my back, I wouldn’t have told you at all."

Shen Qinglan smiled. Her smile was beautiful but made Jin Enxi shiver uncontrollably. It was over; An was furious. She frantically gestured to Andre, signaling him to stop talking.

"Andre, have you forgotten that we once fought side by side as partners? We trusted each other with our lives. By not telling me, what would you have me do when I eventually find out, or if something happened to you? I did say that we should not contact each other after leaving, but that doesn’t mean I would stand by and do nothing if you were in danger."

Andre’s pupils constricted sharply as he saw Shen Qinglan smiling, yet her gaze was chillingly cold. He finally realized he might have made a grave mistake. How could he forget that An had always valued loyalty and brotherhood?

Andre lowered his head, "An, I’m sorry."

Shen Qinglan looked at him coldly before finally reaching out to help him up from the ground.

"What’s the situation with Eden now?" Shen Qinglan asked, looking at Jin Enxi.

"We can now confirm that Eden has indeed fallen into BK’s hands, but as of now, there doesn’t seem to be any threat to his life. We attempted a rescue a few days ago, and it was unsuccessful. That’s when Cissily got injured."

BK? Shen Qinglan pondered. Though she had been out of the business for many years, she knew about BK. BK was a well-known mercenary organization in the world, with not many members, but each possessing formidable combat skills. They were an organization that could be mentioned in the same breath as the former Devil Organization.

They operated globally, willing to work for anyone as long as the price was right. Their leader named KING, a blond-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian, was exceptionally cruel and ruthless. Perhaps it was because of such a leader that the organization’s members were equally brutal. Shen Qinglan had personally witnessed them killing defenseless old people and children while on a mission.

BK had a notorious reputation among mercenary groups around the world, yet due to their powerful combat abilities, no one had been able to deal with them.

Shen Qinglan and her group had had a few conflicts with them before, but they had always ended inconclusively after the heads of both sides negotiated. Shen Qinglan, having crossed swords with them, was well aware of their combat capabilities.

"How did Eden fall into their hands?" Shen Qinglan didn’t understand. Eden was a passionate medical enthusiast, and after leaving the Devil Organization, he had immersed himself in the study of medicine, which should have meant no connection to them.

Jin Enxi shook her head, "We don’t know. A month ago, we suddenly received a distress signal from Eden. By the time we got there, all that was left on the scene was a scalpel. We’d been searching for his whereabouts ever since. They say when opportunity knocks, you should let it in, but we were too late; by the time we found a lead and went to rescue him, the damage was done..."

The outcome was now clear for all to see.

Shen Qinglan turned her eyes to Andre, "How did you get hurt? Even if BK is formidable, with your skills, rescuing one person shouldn’t be a problem. What happened to bring about this situation?"

Although Andre hadn’t mentioned it, if Cissily had sustained such severe injuries, Andre must be injured as well.

Andre’s eyes darkened, "We encountered KING, right during our retreat, we came across KING and his several right-hand men. In the end, if it weren’t for Eden who voluntarily stayed behind, even threatening with his own life, we would’ve probably all died there." To put it bluntly, they had underestimated their enemy and capsized in an unanticipated ditch.

Shen Qinglan pondered; since KING was willing to let them go because of Eden’s threat, it indicated that Eden was very important to them. But why? Could it be because of Eden’s medical skills?

No, that wasn’t right. Eden’s medical expertise was indeed exceptional, and he liked to research various challenging diseases, being quite skilled in that area, but his medical skills were not so peerless as to be irreplaceable. So what was it really about?

A flash of insight struck her mind; perhaps Eden had something in his possession that they wanted.

Having grasped the key point, Shen Qinglan was no longer in a hurry, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that the BK mercenary organization had hurt her friend.

"Where was their hideout when you guys went there last time?"

Jin Enxi revealed an address, and Shen Qinglan frowned. That place seemed to be a battle-worn country in South Africa, constantly in a state of war and chaos. However, for them, it truly was an excellent hiding spot. Moreover, their weaponry was state-of-the-art, so they were not afraid of local armed forces.

"Are they still there?"

Jin Enxi shook his head, "We checked after returning, and it seems they’ve retreated, but recently their activities have been spotted near the borders of Country Z, KING included. I’m just not sure if Eden is also there."

Shen Qinglan’s expression suddenly changed, "What did you just say? They are at the border of Country Z?"

"Yes, and it seems they have some important business there, otherwise KING wouldn’t show up."

The BK Mercenary Group was involved in a wide range of businesses, and they would insert themselves wherever there was money to be made; their presence at the border certainly wasn’t a positive sign.

But this was not something Shen Qinglan could deal with at the moment, and she didn’t believe the leaders of Country Z were unaware. Perhaps they already had a plan.

Her main priority now was to bring Eden back.

"Once Cissily wakes up, I’ll head to the border and bring Eden back," Shen Qinglan stated. Now that Yin Deng’s safety was confirmed, there was no rush. This matter was a bit tricky, and she needed to carefully plan it out.

Andre nodded, "I understand, I’ll go prepare the equipment for you now."

"Wait," Shen Qinglan stopped him, "I’ll figure out the equipment. Just focus on taking good care of Cissily in the next few days, and tend to your wounds. You’re now an international superstar, every move you make draws public attention. Don’t bring about unnecessary trouble."

Andre knew she was right and didn’t refuse, agreeing to her request.

"Enxi, you must give me an exact location for Eden within three days."

"Okay."

After having given her instructions, Shen Qinglan took Andre’s phone and dialed a long string of numbers. The call was quickly answered, and a pleasant male voice sounded from the other end.

"Hi, hello, Andre."

"Austin, it’s me, An."