The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 186. Old acquaintance, help

Chapter 186: 186. Old acquaintance, help

The man at the other end of the line was silent for a second before suddenly calling out excitedly, "My God, An, it’s really you. You finally called me, you heartless girl. How many years have you not contacted me?"

Austin was originally lying on a chair soaking up the sun when he suddenly sprang up, startling the waiting housekeeper.

Hearing Austin’s animated voice, Shen Qinglan’s lips held a faint smile, "Sorry, I haven’t called you."

Austin was just speaking out of formality and wouldn’t really blame her, "An, where are you now, are you with Andre?"

Shen Qinglan hummed in acknowledgement, and Austin immediately picked up his suit jacket to leave, "Then I’m coming to find you now, An. Wait for me."

"Wait a minute," Shen Qinglan stopped him, "Austin, I’ll come to you instead. I actually have something I need your help with."

Austin stopped in his tracks and handed his clothes to the housekeeper, "No problem, just tell me what you need help with. My father happens to be home, and he has mentioned countless times that you need to join us for a meal when you’re back."

"No problem, I’ll be over now, should be there in about an hour," after Shen Qinglan finished, she hung up the phone.

Andre stood up, "Take my car."

Shen Qinglan didn’t object, and Jin Enxi did not follow, knowing Shen Qinglan’s relationship with Austin, she was not worried at all.

**

In front of an ancient yet imposing castle, Shen Qinglan’s car had just driven in when she saw the figure of a young man. She didn’t get out of the car, but instead opened the door, and the man got in.

"An, it’s been six years, you’ve become even more beautiful," he mused. The little girl from those years ago had grown up.

Shen Qinglan didn’t look at him and simply spoke lightly, "It’s been six years, how have you been?"

Austin laughed, "Not bad, just missed you a lot." If it hadn’t been for Shen Qinglan’s instructions not to look for her, he might have already visited that distant country to see her.

The car drove into the castle, surrounded by a thriving, beautiful scenery and vast lawns, "This place is still as beautiful as ever."

"How long do you plan to stay in Country Y this time?"

Shen Qinglan fell silent upon hearing this, "Austin, I have to leave in three days. A friend of mine is in trouble."

Austin’s expression changed slightly, "Can I help in any way?"

As they approached the building, Shen Qinglan did not continue the topic, instead saying, "Let’s talk about it later."

Shen Qinglan got out of the car, handed the keys to a waiting maid, Austin opened the door for her, and welcomed her in. "Uncle Ian, long time no see." Shen Qinglan greeted the housekeeper Ian, who was waiting at the door and slightly bowing to her.

Housekeeper Ian smiled faintly, "Miss An, long time no see."

The maid, curious, glanced at Shen Qinglan, an Eastern face, extremely beautiful, the most beautiful woman she had seen.

"Who is she?" the maid whispered to her peer, who shook her head lightly, indicating ignorance. They were all new in the last two years and had never seen Shen Qinglan, so they didn’t recognize her.

"It seems the housekeeper knows her." Not only that, his attitude was very respectful; this young woman seemed to have quite a background.

"This is none of our business; better get back to work," another maid whispered, and the others agreed and hurried back to their tasks.

Austin took Shen Qinglan directly upstairs into a study where a man in his fifties or sixties was waiting. When he saw Shen Qinglan, a smile spread across his face, and he opened his arms. Shen Qinglan walked over and hugged him, "Welcome back, my child."

"Uncle Kent," Shen Qinglan said softly, her tone gentle and accompanied by a light smile.

Duke Kent was very pleased, letting go of Shen Qinglan to look her over, nodding, "You’ve become prettier. It seems you’ve been doing well these past years."

Shen Qinglan nodded, "Yes, but I am very sorry for not coming to see you for so many years."

Duke Kent didn’t feel the same, "As long as you are well, that’s what matters, my child. Are your family treating you well?"

A smile appeared in Shen Qinglan’s eyes, "Very well, they are very good to me."

Duke Kent was overjoyed, nodding repeatedly, "That’s good to hear. If you ever feel unhappy at home, remember to come back, this will always be your home."

Shen Qinglan’s heart warmed slightly, and she nodded with a smile, "How have you been these years, Uncle?"

"I’m fine; I even go running every morning now."

"My father’s in better shape than I am now; he’s left the company matters to me and spends his days horseback riding and enjoying afternoon tea. It couldn’t be more wonderful," Austin chimed in.

The three of them chatted in the study for a long time, mostly about recent years. Duke Kent didn’t ask about Shen Qinglan’s purpose in coming to Country Y, and Shen Qinglan didn’t mention it until the housekeeper came to announce that the dinner was ready, at which point they went downstairs.

At the large dining table, there were only three of them, but the meal was very enjoyable. After dining, Shen Qinglan was invited to stay overnight.

"Miss An, this is your room. It’s been kept just as you left it, with servants cleaning on schedule every day. The Duke always said that one day you would come back to see him," Ian explained with a smile.

Shen Qinglan looked around the familiar room, her expression distant. She had stayed here for two months, especially in this room. She had been seriously injured at that time and recuperated here for a full two months; the lounger she left on the balcony was still there.

"Thank you, Uncle Ian."

Ian exited, and the maid deposited the clothes they had prepared for Shen Qinglan, then left as well.

Shen Qinglan gently touched the familiar yet strange furniture; the distant memories suddenly revived, flooding her mind.

Her acquaintance with Duke Kent was, in fact, an accident.

Seven years ago, she had been on a mission, and during her retreat, she happened to come across Duke Kent, who had been kidnapped by BK. Disliking BK’s style, she meddled and inadvertently saved him.

It was only later that she found out that the man she had rescued was the only royal Duke of Country Y, Duke Kent. Originally, the matter should have ended there, after all, she hadn’t intended to save him but to oppose BK’s people. However, she hadn’t expected that by a twist of fate, she would later get to know Austin and even save him twice. In one of those instances, she herself was severely injured, and Austin brought her back to his home.

During the two months she spent recovering at his place, she developed a deep bond with the two masters of the house. Duke Kent was the first to give her the warmth and concern of an elder, but her identity was ultimately sensitive. Once her injuries had improved, she left. Aside from occasionally visiting Duke Kent, she rarely set foot there.

Upon hearing a knock on the door, Shen Qinglan went to open it and, sure enough, saw Austin standing outside holding a cup of milk, which he handed to her. Shen Qinglan accepted it but did not drink it; she did not like milk.

"What do you need help with this time?" Austin asked proactively.

Shen Qinglan closed the door. The soundproofing of the ancient castle was exceptional, so there was no worry of being overheard. "Austin, I need a batch of weapons. I don’t need a lot, just enough to equip myself."

Austin’s expression tensed, "An, what are you planning to do?"

"My comrade has been captured, and I must rescue him."

"An, as far as I know, you’ve already retired. I can take care of this for you. Tell me where your comrade is, and I’ll get people to help you with the rescue, no matter how many it takes."

Austin knew Andre and also understood the relationship between Andre and Shen Qinglan. Had he not known Shen Qinglan’s identity at first, then seeing that Shen Qinglan didn’t deliberately hide it from him, he would have become aware of it.

"Austin, I can handle this myself. Don’t get involved; just help me obtain what I need. If you’re unwilling to help me, I can get it myself."

Austin looked frustrated, "An, why do you say such things? You know I will agree to any request you make." As long as you ask, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.

His eyes were filled with profound emotion, the kind that anyone could see.

Austin didn’t know when he had fallen in love with Shen Qinglan. How old was she when he met her, fourteen or fifteen? Despite being such a tender age, almost a child, her eyes were so cold. A person like her should have been cold-hearted and ruthless, yet she had saved him time and again, nearly dying in the process.

He had fallen in love with this girl five years his junior. He wanted to wait for her to grow up and then marry her. But before he could take action, she had left. Before she left, he had gone to her to ask if he might seek her out.

What had she said? Let him think, oh, he remembered now. She had said if he dared to seek her out, then he could forget about seeing her for the rest of his life.

He knew she had the means to do so; hence, he was afraid. For many years, in countless deep nights, her beautiful and youthful face had appeared in his mind. He was nearly driven crazy by thoughts of her, yet lacked the courage to see her even once.

Did Shen Qinglan not know about Austin’s feelings for her? Not necessarily, but being certain the relationship was impossible, why give him hope? Better let him suffer less, better to let him forget. And time was the best healer.

Originally, she had thought that after so many years, Austin would have forgotten her, but now it seemed that she had thought too much.

"Austin, after this matter is over, I will invite you to visit my house," Shen Qinglan said.

Austin’s face was filled with elation, "Really, An, can I visit your home?"

Shen Qinglan nodded, "Of course. I’ll invite you to see where I live, as well as meet my family and husband."

The joy on Austin’s face froze. He looked at Shen Qinglan incredulously, "Husband? You’re married?"

"Yes, I’ve been married for over half a year. My husband is a soldier and he treats me very well."

Austin looked devastated, and Shen Qinglan steeled her heart as she continued to speak, "After this is all over, you can go see him. If he knows he has such a good brother like you, he’ll be happy too."

Austin did not respond. He was deeply saddened. The girl he had been waiting for all this time was now telling him that she was married. He couldn’t quite grasp what he felt at the moment, looking at the face he had missed for years. A bitter smile appeared on his lips. "An, you are so cruel to me," he said, not even willing to leave him a sliver of hope.

Shen Qinglan pursed her lips and said nothing, the atmosphere becoming momentarily stagnant.

After a long while, Austin wiped his face and said, "An, I understand. I’ll give you what you need by tomorrow, but you have to promise me one condition."

Shen Qinglan looked at him.

"You have to take care of yourself and not get hurt."

Shen Qinglan looked at him deeply and nodded. "Okay."

Austin smiled and said, "An, I should go now. Take care and good night."

"Good night."

Shen Qinglan closed the door of the room, leaning against the wall. A trace of regret appeared on her cool face, but it vanished without a trace when she saw the incoming call from Fu Hengyi.

"Fu Hengyi," she softly called out, her tone carrying a sense of longing that she herself hadn’t noticed, even though he had only been away for a few days.

Fu Hengyi’s expression paused, sensing something was off with her emotions. He softened his voice. "Qinglan, what happened?" He was unaware of Shen Qinglan’s trip to Country Y.

"Nothing, just that while traveling alone abroad, I suddenly thought of you."

"You’re abroad?"

"Yes, in Country Y. It was getting a bit boring at home, so I thought of going out for a stroll. A friend mentioned Europe is nice, so I decided to have fun here for a while."

"When you’re alone abroad, make sure to take care of yourself. If you don’t understand the local language, you can find a translator. It should be possible to find students there who can accompany and translate for you," Fu Hengyi said, becoming concerned upon hearing she was alone abroad.

"Fu Hengyi, I can speak English," and quite well at that.

Fu Hengyi laughed, of course. As the daughter of the Shen Family, how could she possibly not speak English? He realized that perhaps he was worrying too much.

"The weather in Country Y is different from back home. Remember to bring an extra set of clothes when you go out, and always carry an umbrella."

"I know, Fu Hengyi," Shen Qinglan called out, interrupting his various admonishments. Fu Hengyi stopped, listening, "Have you noticed you’re starting to sound more and more like Aunt Zhao?" Always admonishing her this and that, treating her like a child who couldn’t take care of herself.

Fu Hengyi felt helpless, a doting smile appearing at the bottom of his eyes. Mu Liancheng, who had come to deliver some papers, saw this moment and knew who was on the other end of the phone. He sighed inwardly, marveling at the power of their love which could make their ordinarily indifferent Captain so indulgent.

Mu Liancheng had heard quite a few stories about Shen Qinglan over the New Year, and his impression of the Captain’s wife was anything but shallow.

Seeing Mu Liancheng, Fu Hengyi exchanged a few more words before hanging up the phone. "Captain, we should head out now."

Fu Hengyi’s face had returned to its usual sternness, he nodded, switched off his phone, and tossed it into the drawer. In fact, he was set to depart today to execute a very dangerous mission. Before leaving, he wanted to hear Shen Qinglan’s voice, which is why he had called her.

"Captain, BK has been especially active at the border recently, and it looks like they’re planning something big," Mu Liancheng said as he walked beside Fu Hengyi.

"In recent years, BK has become increasingly brazen. This isn’t the first time we’ve clashed with them. Tell the brothers they must ensure their own safety."

Mu Liancheng nodded. Although they had been prepared to make sacrifices since joining the force, no one wanted to sacrifice themselves if they could avoid it, after all, they too had families, friends, and lovers.

The helicopter was ready, and the others had already boarded the aircraft; Fu Hengyi was the last to get on. Only after everyone was in place did the helicopter leave the mysterious special forces base.

They were an existence known to only a select few, the nation’s sharp blade, operating between good and evil. They were Sharp Blade.

The helicopter landed at a certain criminal investigation brigade at the border, where someone was already waiting. "Captain Fu, once again, we need your assistance," said a leader-like person as he reached out to shake hands with Fu Hengyi, speaking politely. He was the commander of this operation, the captain of a certain JD brigade, named Li Liansheng.

"As we should."

"We originally thought this was just a regular DP smuggling case, but as the investigation deepened, we discovered BK’s involvement. Our understanding of this organization is limited, so we had to request support from your superiors," explained Li Liansheng.

"Do we know how many of them there are this time?" asked Fu Hengyi.

"We don’t have a clear number yet, but according to our informants, KING, the leader of BK, might show up this time. It seems that they’re dealing in large quantities."

KING. Fu Hengyi’s eyes darkened, a chill suddenly spreading through him. Eight years ago, it was the first time he had confronted the BK organization, and he had nearly fallen to this man’s hands. Several of his brothers also died at the hand of KING. For many years, he had wanted to capture KING, but the man was cunning and had escaped multiple times.

The expression on Mu Liancheng’s face was also grim. He had participated in that battle and had witnessed brothers fighting alongside him dying before his eyes. His hatred for KING was no less than that of Fu Hengyi.

"We’ve been tracking them for a long time, and only recently did we get a clue. They are very cautious and ruthless; several of our undercover agents have died at their hands," continued Li Liansheng. It wasn’t his first cooperation with Fu Hengyi. The last time they had rescued hostages from the BK organization and Fu Hengyi had been injured in that operation.

Fu Hengyi was looking at a map, a topographical one of the surrounding area. The area was surrounded by mountains and vast rainforests; capturing these people would be extremely difficult. Moreover, these were not ordinary desperados; they were the BK, many of whose members had abilities comparable to those of special forces.

Such an organization, were it not for its limited numbers, would have long become a thorn in the side of certain countries, to be removed quickly.

Here, Fu Hengyi was busily preparing for the imminent battle, in Country Y.

Shen Qinglan was checking the equipment in her hands. "An, this is the best gear I could get for you. What do you think?" Austin asked.

Shen Qinglan set down the weapon she had just checked and picked up a military saber. Looking at its gleaming blade, she had no doubt about its sharpness; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it could slice through iron like mud.

She recognized the military saber at a glance as one of the top ten famous sabers in the world. That Austin could procure it, and in such a short time, must have cost quite some effort.

"Austin, thank you," Shen Qinglan said sincerely.

"An, you never need to thank me, didn’t you forget? You saved my life twice," Austin extended two fingers. "An, you don’t actually need to go in person. I can hire someone to rescue your friend, no matter the cost."

Austin could imagine how dangerous this mission was. If it necessitated calling on An to make a move, it surely wasn’t a simple rescue operation.

"Austin, this time I have to go alone, you understand." If even she couldn’t rescue Eden, she didn’t know who else to turn to.

Shen Qinglan wasn’t an arrogant person, nor blindly egotistical, but she had great confidence in her abilities. She was someone who had genuinely clawed her way out of Hell.

Shen Qinglan left the castle, while Andre stayed in the hospital. On the surface, he was a film and television star, but as a former top ten ranked assassin, he naturally had his own intelligence channels.

"An, it’s been confirmed. Eden has been taken to the Z country border. A year ago, Eden discovered a new type of plant extract in a primitive tribe, which is very addictive. If it’s added to DP, it can greatly enhance the addictiveness of DP. KING somehow found out he had this substance and kidnapped Eden."

"Since when did KING start researching DP themselves?" Shen Qinglan wondered. Although the BK organization did traffic drugs, they were more often just dealers, not developers.

"It’s not them; they’re just doing someone’s bidding for money. It’s QS who want this substance. They offered a high-level request for BK to capture Eden. But after they got him, KING suddenly reneged, wanting to hike the price. The negotiation fell through. So, Eden has remained in KING’s hands."

"What does KING want to do at the Z country border this time?"

"They’re conducting a large-scale drug deal. Actually, they scouted the route once before, but the people who went never came back. It’s said they ran into the Z country military and were wiped out," Jin Enxi added.

A contemplative look crossed Shen Qinglan’s eyes. "Last time? You mean the time they scouted the route? When was this, and where was the trade location?"

Jin Enxi provided the time and location.

Shen Qinglan was startled. Wasn’t that the timeframe when Fu Hengyi was injured? Was his injury related to this?

And about this time, with KING’s movements being so substantial, would Fu Hengyi appear? If he did and they encountered each other, what then?

A trace of unease suddenly appeared in Shen Qinglan’s heart.

Taking out the things obtained from Austin, Andre couldn’t help but whistle, "This Austin is really something, actually getting so much good stuff. Last time I asked him for a little gizmo, he flat-out refused."

Shen Qinglan glanced at him, speaking indifferently, "Andre, don’t forget what I’ve told you."

"An, I haven’t forgotten. I’ve been behaving for the past two years. If it wasn’t for Eden, we wouldn’t be involved in this," Andre explained.

Shen Qinglan said no more; they were all adults. She had said what needed to be said, and whether they listened was not something she could control.

Cissily finally woke up the next day, but upon facing the fact that she had lost her child, she was surprisingly calm. She didn’t cry or make a fuss, which made Andre worry all the more. He would have preferred her crying and fussing over this unsettling calm.

In the hospital room, Shen Qinglan looked at the still pale-faced Cissily and softly said, "Andre isn’t here, if you want to cry, just cry."

The corners of Cissily’s mouth slightly lifted, and she shook her head, "An, I don’t want to cry. Seeing you makes me happy. If I weren’t trapped here unable to move, I would really like to give you a big hug."

Shen Qinglan looked into her eyes, which held a faint sadness, suggesting that the loss of her child wasn’t without impact. Perhaps their emotions were just more restrained than those of ordinary people due to past experiences.

She leaned in gently and hugged Cissily. "I will avenge you."

Cissily shook her head, "An, as long as Eden can be safely rescued, that’s all that matters. As for me, don’t worry. Maybe this just shows that I was not yet meant to be a mother. Besides, I was not prepared to be a mother. When I found out I was pregnant, I was actually bewildered. Now, it has made the decision for me, and that’s okay. It’s just hard on Andre."

Qinglan and the others actually didn’t have a fondness for children. If it weren’t for Little Douding, perhaps Qinglan wouldn’t like kids even now, so she could understand Cissily’s feelings.

"Cissily, we’ve already left that place. In the outside world, children are angels."

Cissily smiled faintly, "An, I know. Don’t worry about me. I’m just sorry I can’t go with you this time. After Eden is rescued, please don’t tell him about me. I don’t want him to feel guilty. He’s my partner, and I have never regretted it."

Qinglan nodded earnestly, "Okay, rest assured."

The next day, Qinglan and the two others left. Originally, Qinglan did not agree with Andre joining them, considering he was injured and Cissily needed care, but Andre insisted on going and Cissily strongly persuaded her, so Qinglan had to agree.

"An, we’re almost at the border of Z country," Jin Enxi said, holding a map and pointing at a spot, "Once we cross this mountain and through this jungle, we’ll enter the neighboring country. By tomorrow at the latest, we’ll be close to where BK and his group are stationed."

Qinglan looked at the map in Jin Enxi’s hand. They had entered via LG, bordering Z country. It was possible to go through Z country, but they were carrying so much that getting checked could be problematic, so this route was the most convenient.

Qinglan wore green athletic clothes, her hair tied up, carrying a backpack filled with dry food and essential gear. Jin Enxi and Andre wore similar outfits.

They had been walking in the jungle for a day and a night but showed no signs of exhaustion. It was almost noon, and Qinglan found a flat area for them to sit down and rest. Now that they knew the purpose behind KING capturing Eden, they were sure of his safety and were not in a hurry.

"This fruit tastes nice," said Andre, nibbling on a green fruit with two more in his pocket, which he tossed to the others. Qinglan caught one, bit into it without washing, finding it sour and sweet, much like an apple but juicier and crunchier.

"An, it’s been a long time since we last moved together," Andre said after finishing one fruit and starting on another. "I miss those times when it was you, me, Cissily, Enxi, Eden, and..."

Andre’s voice trailed off, his expression darkening. A change flickered in Qinglan and Jin Enxi’s eyes too. Who else was he referring to? They all knew in their hearts, but that person could never return.

"Let’s get moving as soon as we finish eating. This big move by BK will definitely attract Z country’s JD troops. Once they clash, it will be our best chance to rescue. After we get the people out, we must not stay long and leave immediately," Qinglan said lightly.

Jin Enxi and Andre’s expressions became grave, and they responded with a firm "Okay." Qinglan was the youngest among them, but as always, she was the planner of every operation, and it was because of her that they were united as a group.

But their luck was not great this time, as heavy rain started falling that afternoon. Being winter, the rain was bone-chilling as it soaked their clothes. Qinglan intended to keep moving but hesitated and eventually found a cave to shelter from the rain.

"An, looking at the rain, it should stop by tomorrow," Andre wrung out his jacket, squeezing out a pool of water; he was dressed only in an undershirt. A bonfire was already lit in the cave, and both Qinglan and Jin Enxi, drenched, were sitting by it to warm themselves.

Their luck wasn’t too bad; the cave they found seemed to have been inhabited before, with plenty of dry wood left, otherwise, they would have had to spend the night in wet clothes. In such weather, even if one were made of iron, it would be impossible to guarantee not falling sick the next day.

Away from the bonfire, their baggage was securely placed, containing things that would explode if too close to the heat source, so naturally, it had to be kept far away. Should anything explode, the three of them would become a joke—three of the world’s top ten assassins who played themselves to death? What else would that be if not a joke?

At night, they took turns keeping watch. Although it was unlikely that they would face any danger, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"An, Enxi, you two sleep first. I’ll take the first watch of the night," Andre volunteered.

"Let me do it. You’re still not fully recovered from your injuries, and you got soaked today," Jin Enxi offered, fiddling with a watch-like device in her hand.

"These little injuries count for nothing, Enxi, you underestimate me too much," Andre frowned. Most of his wounds were superficial. During their last rescue mission, the three of them had split up; and when Shen Cissily encountered KING, they arrived one step too late, resulting in Cissily’s severe injuries.

Jin Enxi was actually also injured, but as Andre had said, these injuries were nothing to them; they had suffered far worse before.

"Don’t argue anymore. I’ll keep watch for the first half of the night; the rest of you should go rest. When the time comes, I’ll call you." Shen Qinglan spoke calmly, her cool voice crystal clear in the silent night. The two who had been arguing stopped and took a serious look at Shen Qinglan’s earnest expression, then fell silent, tacitly agreeing with her words. Each found a comfortable corner to lean against the wall and closed their eyes to sleep.

Instead of arguing here, it was better to rest sooner and then replace Shen Qinglan.

Seeing that the two had gone to sleep, Shen Qinglan added another log to the campfire, took a stick in her hand, and poked the fire, making it burn more vigorously.

The firelight reflected on her cool brows and eyes. Her face was expressionless, but a deep unease flickered in the depths of her eyes. The night before they set off, she had made a call to Fu Hengyi, but his phone had been turned off, and there had been no reply since then, which could only mean one possibility: Fu Hengyi was on a mission, completely cut off from the outside world.

Considering what Jin Enxi had told her and the incident of Fu Hengyi being injured last time, Shen Qinglan was certain that it must have been BK’s people who had caused Fu Hengyi’s previous injury. Now, BK had shown up again, and it was KING himself—the average person was no match for them.

What about Fu Hengyi, then? Had he also come here? Even though he wasn’t involved in their current operation, what was she to do if she happened to encounter Fu Hengyi and he recognized her?

And what if Fu Hengyi found out her true identity?

Shen Qinglan, who was always decisive, hesitated for the first time, feeling scared. She touched her chest where her heart was still beating—slowly and powerfully, yet so restless.

Fu Hengyi, it seems I truly have fallen in love with you. That’s why I’m so tormented by these worries.

Shen Qinglan’s eyes were heavy, and her mind alternated between the image of Fu Hengyi in military uniform, righteous and tenderly doting on her, and the sight of herself with blood-stained hands, coldly watching people fall dead without closing their eyes.

"An, I’m well-rested. You can go to sleep now," Andre said softly, bringing Shen Qinglan back from her distant thoughts.

Shen Qinglan shook her head. "I’m not sleepy yet. You keep sleeping."

"Are you worried?" Andre scrutinized her eyes and asked.

Shen Qinglan was startled, wanted to shake her head, but under Andre’s discerning gaze, she slowly lowered her eyes.

"An, are you worried that your family and husband will find out?" Andre asked again, "I heard from Enxi that you are married, and that your husband is a soldier."

Shen Qinglan smiled, "Andre, do you think it’s because I’ve been away too long that I’ve even forgotten the basics of hiding my emotions? If that person were still alive, he might be disappointed. He probably thought he’d created his most successful work, but now it has turned out like this." Her tone carried a slight taunt.

"An, it’s our fault. I got you involved in this mess again. You know, it’s still not too late for you to leave."

Shen Qinglan looked at Andre and laughed, "Andre, I won’t leave. My family and my husband are indeed very important to me, but you guys are equally important."

Andre shook his head with a wry smile. This was An, the person who had won their respect, whom they willingly obeyed.

"An, can you tell me about your husband? I’m very curious about what kind of man could make you willingly agree to marry him," Andre asked gently.

A touch of tenderness crossed Shen Qinglan’s eyes as she smiled, "Actually, I was the one who proposed."