Chapter 58 Zhu Hong (Part 3)

"Thank you."

Upon seeing the gift box placed down, Zhu Hong smiled and said, "Aren't you going to open it and see what it is?"

Hearing this, under his gaze, Nanrong Wanqing cradled the box on her palm, gently opening it. Instantly, a naturally-formed heart-shaped stone revealed itself before her eyes.

"This is..."

"You once told me that you wanted to go to an island country in Eastern Europe, where the sea merges with the sky in perfect blue, so clean and flawless, the most beautiful place in the world. I had the chance to go there once, and on the beach, I found this stone, so I wanted to give it to you as a gift. It may not be something valuable, but it represents my feelings."

Hearing this, a string in Nanrong Wanqing's heart seemed to be touched, a hint of emotion rippling in her beautiful eyes.

How many years had it been? Those words she had said in passing as a child, he had actually kept in his heart.

Her lips parted slightly, about to say something. But at that moment, she saw Zhu Hong pulling out his phone from his pocket, apologetically glancing at her.

"Sorry, this call is quite important, I need to take it." With that, he quickly walked out.

The call connected, and an indifferent voice immediately rang out from the other end: "The mission failed."

"I know."

"How did you know?"

"I just saw the target. What about our people?"

"Two dead, one captured."

"Not a single survivor should be left."

"Understood."

After hanging up, the ferocity in Zhu Hong's eyes gradually subsided, and his mouth curled with a gentle smile as he returned to the living room.

Seeing Nanrong Wanqing studying the heart-shaped stone, Zhu Hong smiled and asked, "Wanqing, do you like it?"

"Thank you," Nanrong Wanqing responded in a neutral tone, neither expressing liking it nor disliking it, her eyes void of any emotional fluctuation. In her memory, her childhood was beautiful and happy, and Zhu Hong was an irreplaceable part of it. Yet, for some reason, after not seeing him for years, amidst the familiarity, there was a hint of strangeness, as if something was standing between them, gradually extending the distance between them.

Confronted with Nanrong Wanqing's polite response, Zhu Hong was unfazed, his lips curling slightly, flashing a charming and intoxicating smile. He took a few steps towards Nanrong Wanqing, half-kneeling in front of her, softly placing one hand on the blanket covering her legs, tenderly saying, "I know you're upset, but don't worry, your childhood Zhu is back. No matter what it takes, I'll cure your legs."

Feeling his concern, Nanrong Wanqing gave a faint smile: "I know you mean well, but my legs are beyond hope. We've sought every possible doctor, and they were all at their wit's end. Besides... I've gotten used to it over these years."

"How can that be? As a child, I promised you that no matter what happened, I'd always be by your side, to cherish you, protect you, to prevent you from getting hurt. Since I promised, it's a lifetime commitment. Wanqing, I heard that the car accident was an attempted murder against you, do you know who did it?"

"The matter is already in the past, I don't want to pursue it, nor do I want to bring it up again."

"Okay." Zhu Hong nodded, then shifted the topic: "You've consulted so many doctors, has Xiaozhu ever checked on you?"

Nanrong Wanqing turned her head away, speaking indifferently: "You know the relationship between her and me..."

"Why bother, so many years have passed, Xiaozhu she..."

"I'm happy to see you today; I don't want to bring up those unhappy matters."

Hearing this, a hint of helpless bitterness flashed in Zhu Hong's eyes as he nodded slightly, "Then I won't talk about it." After speaking, he checked the time and stood up: "Wanqing, I have to deal with some things at the company, so I can't stay with you for too long tonight. Once I finish with the company's work, I'll make time to visit you more often. There's a lot I want to say to you after not seeing you for several years."

"No worries, work is important. You go and take care of it." After a pause, Nanrong Wanqing asked, "Did you drive here?"

"The driver brought me here, but he had something come up, so I sent him away first."

"I'll have someone send you back. Lin!"

"Eh, coming!"

Upon hearing Nanrong Wanqing's call, Su Lin hurriedly ran downstairs from the second-floor bedroom, grinning and saying, "Cousin, what do you need?"

"Have Ling Chen take Zhu Hong back to the hotel."

"Okay, got it."

Seeing Su Lin dash out of the house, Zhu Hong casually asked, "Is that Ling Chen the same person who brought you back earlier?"

"Yes, he's a security personnel hired by my grandfather to look after my safety."

Zhu Hong smiled gently and confidently, "When I'm here, you won't need anyone else's protection."

That's when Su Lin, after looking around for a while, finally found Ling Chen lounging and chatting in Nanrong Hao's villa.

"Mr. Ling, get up quickly, Wanqing is asking you to escort a guest back."

Ling Chen glanced at her and uttered two indifferent words, "Not going."

"You... Ling Chen, how dare you disobey the chairman's order?" Su Lin didn't expect him to refuse, and to top it off, this guy even dared to hang up on her before, increasingly bold.

With half a toothpick in his mouth, Ling Chen bared his teeth, "Miss Su, I'm not a driver. If you want to send someone off, find someone else. Don't come to me; I don't have that free time."

Su Lin said annoyed, "Ling Chen, do you not want to mix here anymore? Don't forget where you are, and who you are."

Ling Chen shrugged indifferently, "If you have a problem, go ahead and fire me."

"You... how dare you talk to me like that?" Su Lin was infuriated, as this guy increasingly failed to recognize her authority.

"Chen..."

Nanrong Hao, worried that the two would start quarreling again, quickly tried to mediate. However, before he could speak, Ling Chen shot him a look, and he instantly shut his mouth, not daring to say more. Cousin was not to be trifled with, and he dared not provoke Ling Chen even more, seeing as Ling Chen was his Master. Although Ling Chen refused to formally take him as a disciple, he always regarded Ling Chen as his Master in his heart.

Besides, he noticed that Ling Chen was acting strangely today. Usually, Ling Chen would greet Su Lin with a smile, but today he seemed like a completely different person, very casual.

"Miss Su, you better hurry and find someone else, don't waste your time here."

"Fine, Mr. Ling, you'll remember this." Su Lin huffed and turned to leave with a huff.

Hearing the heavy door slam from outside, Nanrong Hao gave a wry smile, "Chen, you know what my cousin's temper is like, why bother upsetting her?"

"A woman, you can't spoil them too much."

Ling Chen threw out the phrase carelessly. Now he didn't care, because when he first joined the company, his main goal was for the substantial salary, to pay for Tang Shiyun's tuition fees, and to help alleviate the financial pressure on Tang Shiyun's family. Therefore, he endured and gave way in everything, not quibbling over small things. Now that he knows Tang Shiyun is safe and also chosen by Silver Star Company, he doesn't need to endure grievances for that salary anymore.