CHAPTER 228: CHAPTER 228: TWO LIVES

Kang Yu looked terrible and said anxiously to Bian Yue, "I can’t get through... can’t get through for the moment."

Bian Yue stared at Kang Yu, slowly repeating his words, her voice betraying repression, "What do you mean by ’can’t get through’?"

Kang Yu’s expression became more troubled, and he hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking softly, "President Bian, I... actually, I also don’t know where Mr. Shen currently is..."

Bian Yue’s mind went blank for a moment, swarmed by a host of dreadful thoughts.

Her hand subconsciously clenched into a fist as she spoke with an uneasy trepidation, "Does he... not want me to find him?"

Kang Yu was at a loss as to how to respond.

Bian Yue pursed her lips, took out her cell phone, and called Shen Jinci, but it was the same situation—line busy.

Bian Yue, young at the time, experienced the cost of her first quarrel with Shen Jinci through the sudden loss of her loved one’s whereabouts.

Bian Yue couldn’t accept this cost; a bittersweet taste welled up in her throat as she stubbornly looked at Kang Yu and said, "Give me Shen Zhaoli’s address!"

Late at night, Shen Zhaoli was awakened from his dreams by the continuous vibration of his phone.

Seeing Bian Yue’s name on the caller ID, Shen Zhaoli thought he was hallucinating.

He frowned and, puzzled, answered, "Bian Yue? It’s so late, you..."

"I’m downstairs at your building."

Shen Zhaoli was fully awake now.

The hall was silent in the night, brightly lit.

Shen Zhaoli ran his fingers through his hair, his face questioning, "Tell me, why are you looking for me so late at night?"

"I can’t get through to Jinci’s phone." Bian Yue’s voice was very light, her eyes reddening as she looked at Shen Zhaoli, "He should have gotten off the plane by now, right? Why can’t I reach him?"

"Perhaps... maybe something’s delaying him? I heard this trip of his is quite packed. Anyway, don’t worry, he’ll be back soon." Shen Zhaoli tried to lighten the atmosphere, jokingly teasing, "I don’t know why you’re fretting so much, can’t you manage without him?"

"Which country did he go to? I’m going to find him." Bian Yue enunciated each word firmly, "Now, right away."

"Bian Yue... wouldn’t you be disturbing his work if you go now? How about this, I’ll help you contact him, and you can tell him whatever you want over the phone," Shen Zhaoli suggested, "That way, Shen Jinci won’t be distracted, and you don’t have to make a trip. Isn’t that the best of both worlds?"

"Shen Zhaoli, tell me the truth, did Shen Jinci go on a business trip?"

Bian Yue’s eyes were moist; her voice had hints of a sob behind her facade of firmness, the underlying panic and disarray about to crumble. She said, "I feel like he’s going to be in danger. I must see him now to feel at peace. Zhaoli, please, tell me where he is, alright?"

Shen Zhaoli didn’t know how to answer.

His heart spread with empathy, yet his reasoning forced him to suppress this emotion. Smiling at Bian Yue, he said, "Hey, you’re probably overthinking it. How about this? You rest well first, and when you wake up, I’ll definitely have contacted Shen Jinci. There won’t be any need for you to continue worrying. What do you think?"

Bian Yue also realized that Shen Zhaoli did not want her to find Shen Jinci. If it were only Kang Yu, Bian Yue might console herself that perhaps it was a secret trip and Kang Yu knew nothing. But now, Shen Zhaoli was also employing the same stalling tactics, she couldn’t help but suspect that perhaps Shen Jinci did not want to see her.

Or perhaps, he is currently in danger, becoming an enemy on both sides for the so-called truth.

Both possibilities were more than Bian Yue could bear.

Tears fell from her eyes as she softly said, "Zhaoli, do not lie to me. Once I wake up, help me contact Jinci."

Shen Zhaoli sighed softly in his heart and said, "Okay, I promise you."

Meanwhile, Wen Jiao woke up in the middle of the night and saw Wei Shuqian sitting by her side, with a complex and somber look in his eyes.

After they had opened up to each other, although there were no longer the disputes and contradictions as before, they still did not communicate much.

Some truths are, in essence, painful enough on their own.

It had been a long time since Wen Jiao last saw Wei Shuqian in her room. In fact, he had moved to the room next door and rarely disturbed her.

The two were supposedly a couple soon to be wed, yet there was a lack of intimacy and communication between them.

Wen Jiao blinked and stared dazedly at Wei Shuqian, somewhat taken aback, "You... why are you here today?"

"I need to go on a business trip and might not return for a few days, Jiaojiao..." Wei Shuqian’s voice trailed off, his grip on Wen Jiao’s hand unnoticeable as he looked at the ring on her finger, his expression complex.

Wen Jiao sat up, looking at him bewildered, "What are you looking at?"

"Jiaojiao..." Wei Shuqian frowned, his fingertip gently tracing the ring on Wen Jiao’s finger, and said, "Do you like this ring?"

Wen Jiao was stunned and after a moment, her brows furrowed, "What’s the matter? If you like it, are you going to buy me a new one?"

"If you don’t like it, take it off." Wei Shuqian let go of Wen Jiao’s hand, and under the dim light, he watched her pure and bright eyes. She was still so proud of her beauty, no different from the image in his memory.

But Wei Shuqian was no longer the man who, driven by sheer will and hatred, forced himself to stand before Wen Jiao.

So he paused amidst Wen Jiao’s confusion and continued, "If you don’t like it, you can take it off."

Hearing him repeat this, Wen Jiao, no matter how slow to catch on, could sense something was off, and she spoke sternly, "Wei Shuqian, I’m most annoyed by people who indulge in self-pity. Just say what you want to say!"

"I never mentioned to you about my days abroad, did I?" Wei Shuqian paused, then suddenly raised his hand and gently caressed Wen Jiao’s face, his action so tender that it made Wen Jiao’s originally angry expression turn bemused.

She responded to him, her voice soft as well, "You didn’t mention it."

Wei Shuqian smiled and let his hand drop, "Yes, I didn’t mention it... Back then, several times, I almost didn’t make it. It was a terrible place, full of violence, bloodshed, and strife. I struggled to survive in there, many times running to the point of exhaustion to complete so-called missions, with no part of my body left unscathed..."

"Stop it..." Wen Jiao interrupted him, pursing her lips with a complex expression, and spoke softly, "Wei Shuqian, stop."

"Jiaojiao, I’m telling you all this not because I want your sympathy, but I want to tell you that actually, from the moment I stepped into that place, we became people of different worlds. Even now, standing in this so-called high position, it’s still an underworld shrouded from the light, and you, you do not belong to that world."

Wen Jiao felt a chill, she scoffed to hide her turmoil, and sharply retorted, "Wei Shuqian, am I suddenly not of your world only as of today?"