CHAPTER 302: CHAPTER 302: SERVING HIM AT THE COST OF HER LIFE

Bian Yue had never seen Li Sihe shed tears, such a genuine, almost collapsed appearance.

Even though he tried to hide his breakdown with a gentle and calm facade, Bian Yue still immediately recognized his loss of control.

Bian Yue looked straight into Li Sihe’s eyes, gripping the blanket around her tightly, resolute, without any hint of compromise in her tone, "Li Sihe, don’t make me hate you."

The last bit of light in Li Sihe’s eyes also completely vanished.

He looked at Bian Yue and suddenly smiled, saying, "That’s fine, hate lasts longer than love."

That night, Shen Family Mansion.

Wen Jiao sat in the hall, her expression anxious. Seeing Shen Zhaoli enter, she quickly approached and asked, "How is it going?"

Shen Zhaoli shook his head, sighing, "Bai Xu is still unconscious, that Zhuang Jie Ning’s injuries aren’t as severe, the doctor said she will wake up soon. Right now, there are no clues to find Bian Yue’s whereabouts, we can only wait for Zhuang Jie Ning to wake up."

Wen Jiao’s brows furrowed even tighter, her expression growing increasingly heavy as she pressed for answers, "What about Shen Jinci? Where is he?"

"My brother is turning Xiangjiang upside down as we speak, even Lu Zhonian and Xie Zhang are helping to look for her, but for the moment, we truly have no leads..."

Shen Zhaoli said this and, seeing Wen Jiao’s eyes red with urgency, his tone softened as he patted her forehead, chuckling, "There’s no use in you getting anxious, it won’t help..."

While they were talking, Kang Yu ran in from outside, his voice tense, "Young Master! Zhuang Jie Ning woke up!"

Wen Jiao and Shen Zhaoli exchanged a glance, and Shen Zhaoli said commandingly, "Let’s go to her now, contact my brother and tell him to come back immediately!"

In the guest court of the Shen Family Mansion, Zhuang Jie Ning lay weakly on the bed, her eyes full of anticipation upon hearing the door open.

But the person she hoped for did not appear; instead, Shen Zhaoli and Wen Jiao stood before her.

Zhuang Jie Ning forced a smile, her expression cold, "It’s been a long time, Miss Wen, you’ve become even more beautiful!"

Wen Jiao, hearing Zhuang Jie Ning’s sarcastic remarks, wanted to retort as was her nature, but would surely snap back at her.

But now, she suppressed her anger and said to Zhuang Jie Ning with a heavy tone, "Thank you, Miss Zhuang, do you know where Bian Yue is?"

Zhuang Jie Ning looked at Wen Jiao as if seeing something rare, her arms crossed, leisurely saying, "The sun must have risen from the west, you, Wen Jiao, are actually speaking so nicely."

"Zhuang Jie Ning, if you have any clues, just tell us quickly, human life is at stake! We can’t delay!" Shen Zhaoli said coldly, "And speak to Wen Jiao more respectfully."

"There’s no use asking, I won’t say anything until Shen Jinci arrives," Zhuang Jie Ning said with a smile, her expression triumphant, "Bai Xu definitely won’t wake up, his injuries are too severe, it will be hard enough for him to cling to life for a moment. Now, only I know what happened!"

Shen Zhaoli regarded Zhuang Jie Ning with a cold look, but Wen Jiao lowered her stance and said softly, "Miss Zhuang is right, rest assured, Shen Jinci will be here soon, I only hope that when you see him, you will be able to tell us the clues about Bian Yue."

Zhuang Jie Ning pulled at her lips, her smile satisfied.

She felt a thrill of having vented her spleen.

Bian Yue must have vanished without a trace, which is why Wen Jiao would humbly seek her favor in front of her.

Zhuang Jie Ning thought about the grievances she had suffered before at the hands of Wen Jiao and Bian Yue, and she suddenly felt a wave of relief.

And once again, footsteps approached from the door; this time, it was Shen Jinci returning.

He wore a dark suit, his handsome and fair face radiant under the light, exuding an oppressive nobility. However, the malevolence in his eyes was too strong, inevitably causing a tremor in one’s heart.

Zhuang Jie Ning watched Shen Jinci calmly, yet her heart was uncontrollably tumultuous.

After so long, she finally had the chance to see Shen Jinci from such a close distance again.

He seemed like a dream from her girlhood, and now the opportunity for that beautiful dream to come true was right before her eyes.

Zhuang Jie Ning gazed at Shen Jinci’s icy countenance and smiled, "Mr. Shen, have everyone leave. I would like to speak with you alone."

Shen Jinci looked at Zhuang Jie Ning expressionlessly, "Zhaoli, you and Wen Jiao leave first."

"Okay." Shen Zhaoli frowned as he looked at Zhuang Jie Ning, disgust clearly apparent in his eyes.

He withdrew his gaze and, supporting Wen Jiao’s shoulder, walked out.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Zhuang Jie Ning raised her hand to tidy up the stray hairs by her temples, her smile gentle and demure, the very image of a well-bred young lady, "I must thank you, Mr. Shen, for saving me."

"Where is Bian Yue." His voice was flat, chilling to the extreme, making it impossible to discern any emotion.

Zhuang Jie Ning’s eyes reddened, and she spoke in a low voice, "Mr. Shen... I didn’t want to say before, not in front of Shen Zhaoli and Wen Jiao...I didn’t know how to say it...Bian Yue...Bian Yue, she..."

Shen Jinci slowly lifted his eyes, the crimson in his eyes spreading, he looked at Zhuang Jie Ning, his voice dropping to freezing, "What happened to Bian Yue?"

"Bian Yue, she... the fire was too big..." Zhuang Jie Ning covered her face, sobbing loudly, "Bian Yue didn’t manage to escape... She... she’s already..."

"Shut up!" Shen Jinci’s tone carried visible rage as he quickly strode towards Zhuang Jie Ning and suddenly seized her by the throat, showing no mercy as he exerted pressure.

Zhuang Jie Ning’s face turned bright red as she looked at Shen Jinci in disbelief, struggling to break free from his grasp, "Help... Help me... Shen Jinci, have you gone mad!"

Just as Zhuang Jie Ning thought she was going to die here, Shen Jinci finally let go. He watched as Zhuang Jie Ning lay on the bed, coughing so hard it seemed her heart might split.

Zhuang Jie Ning was terrified, her voice trembling, "I’m a victim too! Why are you doing this to me!"

"Shen Shiniang is already dead," Shen Jinci suddenly stated indifferently.

Zhuang Jie Ning’s mind exploded into a blank, staring at Shen Jinci, "How could you... commit murder?"

"He committed suicide. Before I went to find him, he chose to take his own life," Shen Jinci narrowed his eyes as he looked at Zhuang Jie Ning, "It wasn’t me who wanted him dead, it was the perpetrator behind the scenes who wanted him dead. You worked for him and in the end, it’s a dead end for you as well."

Zhuang Jie Ning’s body turned cold, but the more she felt this way, the less daring Zhuang Jie Ning was to speak.

She cast her eyes down, hiding the panic within, silent.

"I don’t know what benefits he gave you to cover for him here, but let me be very clear to you, Zhuang Jie Ning, if you tell me Bian Yue’s whereabouts, I can ensure your survival."

Fear filled Zhuang Jie Ning’s eyes as she struggled to respond, "What if... what if I don’t tell you?"

"Then I’ll send you to your death." Shen Jinci’s tone remained even and calm, he laughed, his demeanor genteel and refined, "Zhuang Jie Ning, I’m not a merciful person either."

"It’s really not that I don’t want to say... I’m also a victim..." Zhuang Jie Ning looked at Shen Jinci nervously, trying to defend herself, "I don’t know anything."