Chapter 59

“Thank you.”

Seeing her accept the gift, Zhu Hong smiled and said, “Why don’t you open it and see what’s inside?”

Since he said so, under his watchful gaze, Nanrong Wanqing held the box in her palm and opened it gently. Immediately, a natural-formed heart-shaped stone appeared before her eyes.

This is…”

“You used to tell me that you always wanted to go to an island country in Eastern Europe. The seas there are cerulean blue, and the sky pure and flawless. It is the most beautiful place in the world. I had a chance to go there once. On the beach there, I found this stone, so I wanted to give it to you as a gift. Although it is not something valuable, it represents my heart.”

Hearing his words, Nanrong Wanqing’s heartstring seemed to be tugged, ripples disrupted the calmness of her beautiful eyes.

It had been so many years, yet a statement that she had uttered casually as a child was something that Zhu Hong had kept close to his heart.

Her lips slightly parted, and she was about to say something. Just at that moment, Zhu Hong suddenly pulled out his mobile phone from his pocket and glanced at her apologetically.

“Sorry, this call is important. I’ll take it first.” After speaking, he quickly walked out.

The call was connected, and an aloof voice sounded immediately from the other end: “The mission failed.”

“I know.”

“How did you know?”

“I just saw the target. What’s the status of our people?”

“Two died, and one was arrested.”

“No one is to be allowed to speak.”

“Yes.”

As he hung up the phone, Zhu Hong slowly retracted the vicious glint in his eyes and raised the corners of his mouth slightly. He then returned to the living room with an amicable smile again.

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

“Thank you.” Nanrong Wanqing’s face was tranquil, neither revealing any signs of liking or disliking the gift. Not a trace of emotional fluctuations could be seen in her languid eyes. In her memory, childhood was a beautiful and happy phase of her life, and Zhu Hong was an irreplaceable part of that childhood. For some reason though, after not seeing him for a few years, there was a hint of foreignness mixed in with her feeling of familiarity towards him. It was as if something was wedged between them, gradually pulling them further.

In the face of Nanrong Wanqing’s courteous reply, Zhu Hong did not take it to heart and his mouth slightly curved, revealing an enchanting and intoxicating smile. He walked over to Nanrong Wanqing’s side in a few steps, crouched down in front of her, and gently placed a hand on the blanket on her leg. He lamented affectionately, “I know you are sad, but rest assured, the brother Zhu Hong that you knew when you were young is back. No matter the cost, I will definitely heal your legs.”

Sensing his concern, Nanrong Wanqing smiled faintly, “I know you are thinking for me, but I already lost all hope for this pair of legs. I already searched through countless doctors, and all of them are helpless, let alone… After these few years, I’m already used to it.”

“How can I do that? I promised you when I was a kid that no matter what happens, I will always stay by your side, take care of you, and protect you from any harm. Since I already promised, it will be for a lifetime. Wanqing, I heard that someone was intentionally plotting to assassinate you, which resulted in the accident. Do you know who did it?”

“Things are already in the past. I have no interest in pursuing the matter anymore, and I don’t want you to bring it up again.”

“Alright.” Zhu Hong nodded and then turned away from the topic. “You have invited so many doctors, so has Xiaozhu tended to you?”

Nanrong Wanqing turned her head to the side, and said coldly, “You know my relationship with her…”

“Why are you being so harsh? It’s been so many years, and Xiaozhu, she…”

“I’m delighted to see you today. I don’t want to mention those unpleasant things in the past.”

After hearing this, there was a trace of helplessness and sorrow in Zhu Hong’s eyes, and he said lightly, “I won’t say anymore then.” After speaking, he looked at the time and stood up. “Wanqing, there is a matter over at the company which requires my attention, so I can’t accompany you for long tonight. When I settle the company’s affairs, I will spend more time seeing you. I haven’t seen you for a few years, and we have a lot to catch up with.”

“No worries, work comes first, you can go first.” She paused before asking, “Did you drive here?”

“My driver brought me over. He had some personal matters to attend to, so I let him go first.”

“I’ll ask someone to send you back. Xiao Lin!”

“Okay, I’m coming!”

Hearing Nanrong Wanqing’s call, Su Lin quickly rushed down from her bedroom on the second floor and said with a face full of smiles. “Sister, what orders do you have?”

“Can you call Ling Chen to send Zhu Hong back to the hotel?”

“Roger.”

Seeing Su Lin running out of the house, Zhu Hong casually asked, “This Ling Chen that you mentioned is the one who just brought you back?”

“Well, he’s a bodyguard hired by my grandpa to take care of my safety.”

Zhu Hong gave a gentle and confident smile, “With me around in the future, you won’t need to be protected by anyone else.”

At this moment, Su Lin searched for a good while, before she finally found Ling Chen, who was chatting in Nanrong Hao’s villa.

“Ling Chen, get up quickly! Wanqing asked for you to take the guest back.”

Ling Chen glanced at her and indifferently spat out two words. “I won’t go.”

“You… Ling Chen, you actually dare to disobey the chairman’s order?” Su Lin had not expected him to refuse, and this guy even had the gall to hang upon her before. This bastard is getting more and more audacious.

Ling Chen chewed the toothpick in his mouth, and said nonchalantly, “Miss Su, I’m not a driver. If you want to send a guest back, then go find someone else, not me. I don’t have any time to spare.”

Su Lin huffed vexedly, “Ling Chen, do you still want to work here? Don’t forget that this is the Nanrong family, what identity do you have.”

Ling Chen shrugged indifferently: “If you have an opinion, then you can just fire me.”

“You… you actually dare to talk to me with that tone?” The rage that Su Lin had built up erupted at once. This guy is looking down on me!

“Bro Chen…” Nanrong Hao was afraid that the two would quarrel again and hurried over. However, before he could complete his sentence, Ling Chen shot him a glance, and he closed his mouth immediately, afraid to say more. He could afford to offend his cousin, but he could not afford to ruffle the feathers of Ling Chen even more. What else could he have done? Ling Chen was his master and was passing on his martial arts and knowledge to Nanrong Hao. Although Ling Chen refused to accept him as a disciple, he always treated Ling Chen as his master.

Moreover, he found that Ling Chen was behaving strangely today. Usually, when Ling Chen saw Su Lin, he would greet her with smiles. However, he seemed to have become a different person altogether and was acting very casually with her.

“Miss Su, I advise you to hurry and find someone else. Don’t waste my time here.”

“Alright Ling Chen, you better remember me.” Su Lin snorted softly, and turned around, angrily stomping out of the house.

Hearing the heavy slam of the door outside, Nanrong Hao smiled bitterly, “Bro Chen, you know my cousin’s temper as well. Why must you go to the extent of arguing with her?”

“Women shouldn’t be too spoiled.”

Ling Chen casually retorted. He simply did not care now. When he first joined the company, his primary purpose was to pay for Tang Shiyun’s tuition fees and help alleviate the financial burden of Tang Shiyun’s family. Therefore, he would always compromise and not argue back against any orders. Now that he knew that Tang Shiyun was doing fine and was even under the protection of Silverstar Entertainment, he had no reason to continue suffering a loss just for the salary.