NOVPUB
Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Zhu Changfu’s Request
Once the decision to act was made, everyone began to bustle about.
They tallied weapons and ammunition, prepared explosives for blasting obstacles, checked and fueled up vehicles, packed easy-to-carry boxed meals, and gathered common emergency medical supplies...
Han Jiaojiao moved the Space-Time Beast’s saplings to the rooftop; Han Yi had previously enclosed a large area with bricks and filled it with soil, significantly increasing the space the saplings had to move around. Now, Han Jiaojiao didn’t have to worry about them flinging soil everywhere anymore.
With the last egg cradled in her palm, Han Jiaojiao thought: Only Pepper hasn’t hatched yet.
She gently scooped a shallow pit in the soil and carefully placed the last egg into it.
The sound of conversation drifted up from below without warning—
"Among the research personnel who met with danger this time, is there someone from the Qin Family?"
"Yes, Qin Sheng’s wife is the director of the Research Institute and one of the key researchers. She was leading the team here when unexpectedly, something went wrong on the road."
—Qin Sheng?
It was Qin Nanyi’s father...
Han Jiaojiao’s heart skipped a beat. She held her breath and slowly shifted to the edge of the rooftop.
The speakers were Yan Xiao and Xiao Jian, who seemed to be on the balcony, which would explain why their voices carried so clearly.
"I remember Han Ge used to be quite close with the Qin Family. Are we going on this rescue mission because of that?"
"Not really, the closeness back then was due to Han Auntie and Mrs. Qin being good friends. Hey! They almost arranged a marriage between Han Ge and their daughter. After Han Auntie passed away, the two families gradually drifted apart."
"...Arranged a marriage for Han Ge?"
"You didn’t know? Han Ge and the Qin Family’s eldest daughter were born on the same day, so many people joked about them getting married. But both Han Auntie and Mrs. Qin felt that they should wait for the children to grow up first."
"The Qin Family’s eldest daughter, that’s Qin Nanyi, right? I heard she’s quite popular."
"Yeah, she graduated from a prestigious school, a beautiful and talented scholar, and is the capable assistant to the Research Institute’s Director Du Heng. The men pursuing her are like carps crossing the river—endless..."
"And you’re one of those carps, aren’t you?"
"Cut it out! As the handsome and peerless Yan Xiao, do I need to chase after her? Besides, these kinds of women usually hold themselves too high, and I simply don’t have the leisure to flatter them."
"Hmm, all your leisure is spent on those little stars and models, isn’t it?"
"What’s wrong with models? Ah, you shouldn’t have brought it up—now that you did, I kind of miss them... Everyday Han Ge flaunts his love life in front of us, making my heart bubble up with acid..."
Their conversation drifted to other topics, and Han Jiaojiao didn’t listen any further. She sat there dumbfounded by the concrete wall, with a vacant expression in her eyes.
So... Qin Nanyi wasn’t pretending to be familiar; she truly was... very close with her brother... 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑝𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Were they nearly betrothed in marriage?... When her brother was a child, did he often spend time with her... He must have, right? Considering how close the families were, it was common to bring their children along on visits to each other’s homes...
Han Jiaojiao held her head in her arms, unwilling to think further.
But the malicious speculations were unstoppable, one after another emerging in her mind...
When she moved into the Han Family, her brother was already sixteen. Before that, was he with Qin Nanyi... Were they childhood sweethearts? Maybe even Qin Nanyi, like her, used to call him brother?
Han Jiaojiao’s body couldn’t help shaking; she lowered her hands, spread them in front of her, palms wet with sweat.
"Goo goo goo..." Cotton Candy’s thin vine reached over, softly curling around her index finger and gently swaying as if to comfort her.
Han Jiaojiao took a deep breath and softly said, "I’m alright, it’s just... I feel like I’ve gotten sick."
She felt that her heart had fallen ill, a murderous intent had been born.
Perhaps it was due to the grudges of old, or perhaps it was the jealousy that had recently burgeoned, Han Jiaojiao could not clearly distinguish the sudden rise of this murderous intent.
She couldn’t help but wonder, would Qin Nanyi become her eternal heartache? Like a fishbone stuck deep in her throat, if it did not go away, she would never find peace.
—Could it be that brother accepted this mission truly for the Qin Family? For Qin Nanyi? Would Qin Nanyi snatch away her brother?
Having been reborn and living a second life, if she lost her brother again, she dared not imagine what her days would be like afterward.
She would not allow it, she would never allow her brother to vanish from the trajectory of her life.
—Perhaps, only by killing Qin Nanyi, would her heart disease be cured.
Han Jiaojiao stood up expressionless, her fingers sliding through the fluff of the Cotton Candy, while Xiaogua and Xiaodou gurgled beside her, stretching their vines to curl around her fingers.
"Do you think I’m wicked?" Han Jiaojiao let them play with her fingers, her pitch-black eyes revealing a solemnity and chill that did not match her age, "It’s okay... as long as no one finds out... No one will know..."
As long as no one knew, she could still be his naive and well-behaved little sister, as long as nobody knew.
There was more movement downstairs; looking down, Han Jiaojiao saw a group of people arriving in the courtyard, led by someone familiar. Zhu Changfu? What was he doing here?
Han Jiaojiao closed her eyes, then opened them again to a clear and bright world.
She turned and walked downstairs.
In the smoky main hall, Han Yi, Lu Changyuan, Yan Xiao, and others were all present, with Zhu Changfu sitting solemnly to the side, his not-so-large eyes emanating determination.
Han Jiaojiao, not understanding the situation, glanced around at everyone and habitually walked to stand behind Han Yi.
At that moment, she heard Zhu Changfu speak in a steady voice, "Brother Han, I know my own limits, but this time, I must go. There’s only one descendant left in the Zhu Family, and I’ve come all this way to the north with my brothers just to find him. Now that we finally have a lead, I absolutely can’t wait here at the base."
Han Yi looked at Zhu Changfu calmly, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the chair. After a long pause, he said, "The last group that went almost got completely wiped out. You and your brothers are likely to die there."
Zhu Changfu fell silent upon hearing this, and after a moment, he looked up at the few people behind him and said, "If any of you don’t want to go, you can stay here. I, Zhu Changfu, will hold no grudges."
"Boss, we’re not afraid to die!" Heizi’s eyes reddened.
The rest of the people behind also expressed their eagerness to accompany him.
Han Jiaojiao was somewhat touched, thinking to herself that Uncle Zhu must treat them well usually, otherwise who would be willing to gamble with their lives at a time like this?
Han Yi said indifferently, "Those who go on a mission with me must follow my rules."
"Of course," Zhu Changfu immediately agreed, "If you say to go east, we will definitely not go west."
"If danger arises on the way, I may save you or I may not." Han Yi continued.
"Understood! We won’t complain if we get hurt or die!" Zhu Changfu said decisively, "We are just here to back up Brother Han, we don’t want a single point of the mission’s points!"
Hearing that Zhu Changfu did not even want the points, there were a few unexpected gasps from the crowd behind him, and Zhu Changfu’s face darkened instantly.
Han Yi smiled a somewhat cold smile, "I think it would be better for you all to go back and discuss it thoroughly before coming back. After all, going on this mission is risking your lives, and you should know who is truly helpful to bring along."
Zhu Changfu’s eyelids twitched, his face taut, and it took him a long time to say, "Brother Han, we’ll come back when we depart tomorrow. You guys go ahead with your business."
After saying that, he led his group of brothers away.
Han Jiaojiao sighed inwardly. Zhu Changfu was truly honorable, keeping his temper in check despite being shown up by his subordinate, probably because he didn’t want to embarrass his subordinate in front of others.
These people, willing to follow him all the way to the north, must be those he trusted the most, but people always have their own selfish interests...
