Chapter 362: This Kid Has Great Fortune
Chapter 362: Chapter 362: This Kid Has Great Fortune
"I’ve already had a physical, and I’m fine," Li Zexing said. "Besides, this isn’t the first time I’ve eaten it. It’s been a while, and I haven’t had any adverse reactions."
"Some things have a latency period. We can’t afford to be careless. I sent some samples of the food for testing. The results should be back soon."
The words had barely left his mouth when Li Long received the sample results.
"Well?"
Li Long’s brow furrowed, and Li Zexing’s heart sank.
’Don’t tell me there’s actually a problem?’
"The results are normal," Li Long murmured. "How is that possible?"
In all his life, he had never encountered food that could soothe the Spiritual Sea.
"Where is that shop? How did you find it? Tell me everything, in detail."
Seeing his father’s reaction, Li Zexing knew exactly what he was thinking.
"Dad, the owner of this shop is Shen Lu. She’s Fu Cheng’s fiancée."
The name Shen Lu alone didn’t ring a bell for Li Long, but he remembered when her other identity was mentioned.
"The girl who was switched at birth?"
"Yes. You probably also know that Fu Cheng is still alive."
"I know. That kid is damn lucky to be alive."
"Shen Lu has been the one taking care of Fu Cheng all this time."
"Is that so?" Li Long said thoughtfully. "Alright, I understand. You can go rest."
"Dad," Li Zexing couldn’t help but remind him, "Fu Cheng is Brother Nan’s best friend."
Li Long shot him a look. "Fu Cheng isn’t just your Brother Nan’s best friend; he’s also the Yun Family’s grandson. I’m well aware of the situation, more so than you."
Reassured, Li Zexing left the study.
Li Long searched for information about Shen Lu on his Light Brain and, to his surprise, found quite a bit.
When he saw Shen Lu posting videos every single day to promote her little shop, he couldn’t help but mutter that she was courting death.
’To possess such a treasure and not know enough to hide it, instead advertising it with such fanfare... If that isn’t asking to be killed, what is?’
As a successful businessman, a series of plans immediately formed in Li Long’s mind. He messaged his assistant, telling him to cancel everything for the following morning. He was going to meet Shen Lu and Fu Cheng in person.
In contrast to the calm in the Li Family household, the Jiang Family residence was in an absolute uproar.
The moment Gao Manting returned, she started tattling. Her family and the Jiang Family lived in adjacent townhouses, and with the whole extended family living nearby, her fuss ensured everyone quickly found out.
As soon as Jiang Gong came home, he was surrounded and criticized by his family.
"How could you do that? How could you bully Man Ting?"
"Apologize to Man Ting this instant! You’re getting more and more out of line!"
"Who is this hussy Man Ting was talking about? Jiang Gong, have you lost your mind? Xia He is such a wonderful girl, and you’re still not satisfied?!"
"I heard that hussy is a waitress at some little diner. Jiang Gong, are you trying to drag the Jiang Family’s name through the mud?"
"You fool! Your engagement is at the end of the year, and you pull something like this. Thankfully, the Xia Family hasn’t found out yet. You need to get rid of that woman, and fast. Do you understand?!"
"Jiang Gong, we’re talking to you! Are you even listening?!"
Jiang Gong took a deep breath. "Are you all finished?"
His words were like a drop of water in a pan of hot oil. With a SIZZLE, the entire room nearly boiled over.
"What kind of attitude is that?!"
"Jiang Gong, don’t be so ungrateful! Do you think we’d ever harm you?! We’re doing this for your own good, and you have the nerve to get impatient?!"
"Jiang Gong!" Father Jiang called his name, his face grim. "Come with me to the study."
He could ignore what others said, but Jiang Gong was still very respectful of his father.
The father and son entered the study, one after the other. Only after the door was closed did Father Jiang ask him what was going on.
He hadn’t blindly believed Gao Manting’s one-sided story; he still had a degree of trust in his own son.
Ever since Jiang Gong had shown his talent as a child, Father Jiang had been grooming him to be the next Corps Commander.
Jiang Gong’s personality may not have been the most mature, but he usually knew where to draw the line.
Jiang Gong recounted the story between him and Sang Yue. "She’s an orphan with no one to rely on. Is it so wrong for me to look out for her a little? If she hadn’t saved me, I’d be dead already."
Father Jiang pondered this. "You’re saying she survived for ten-odd days alone in a desert teeming with mutant beasts?"
"That’s what she told me."
"Do you think that’s possible? She’s just an ordinary person."
"The place where she stayed was special, an area outside the sensory range of mutant beasts. She must have some kind of spatial pocket; I saw her take out many things to eat and use."
It was a flimsy explanation, and Father Jiang was not convinced.
"Sang Yue is a very kind girl. She never tried to leverage the fact that she saved me to ask for anything. Dad, I just treat her as a normal friend. Gao Manting is just being too willful."
Jiang Gong and Gao Manting had been at odds since they were toddlers, bickering all the way into adulthood.
Whenever Gao Manting felt she had been wronged by Jiang Gong, she wouldn’t stop until she had raised hell.
Most of the time, everyone would just placate Gao Manting, scold Jiang Gong a little, and be done with it.
The reason this incident drew such widespread condemnation was primarily because it involved the marriage alliance with the Xia Family.
The Xia Family was more prominent than the Jiang Family. If not for the families being neighbors and the childhood sweethearts’ bond between Jiang Gong and Xia He, this marriage arrangement would never have landed in their laps.
"As long as you know what you’re doing, that’s fine. Stay out of the Lower City District before the engagement. Keep a low profile and avoid starting any nasty rumors," Father Jiang said gravely. "You should know that many people are eyeing the Xia Family’s heiress. She’s their only daughter. Marrying her is tantamount to acquiring the Xia Family. Jiang Gong, if we want our Sharp Blade Mercenary Corps to advance, this is a crucial step."
Jiang Gong’s chest tightened, and an indescribable sense of suffocation washed over him.
He lowered his eyes and murmured that he understood.
Back in his room, Jiang Gong stared blankly at Sang Yue’s profile picture.
He didn’t have much romantic love for Xia He; it was more the affection of an older brother for a younger sister.
Xia He and Gao Manting had completely different personalities. Gao Manting was arrogant and spoiled, while Xia He was gentle and soft-spoken—a perfectly sweet girl-next-door.
When their families had first arranged the marriage, he hadn’t given it much thought and had readily agreed.
But now...
The image of Sang Yue’s face kept appearing in Jiang Gong’s mind.
As a grown man, he knew perfectly well what this meant.
Jiang Gong sighed and turned off his Light Brain.
’Forget it. What’s the point of dwelling on it?’
’Can I call off the engagement?’
’Or does Sang Yue even feel the same way about me?’
’I can’t be sure of anything. It will only cause more turmoil.’
Remembering the grilled fish he had gotten to-go, Jiang Gong went downstairs to grab two beers. He took out the fish and started eating and drinking, feeling a comfortable sense of freedom.
Jiang Gong’s younger brother, Jiang Yun, pushed the door open a crack, and the numbing, spicy, and savory aroma of the grilled fish instantly flooded his senses.
"Bro! What are you eating in secret without me?" Jiang Yun rushed over, snatched his brother’s chopsticks, and shoved a piece of fish into his mouth.
The flavor hit him instantly. Jiang Yun’s eyes widened as he accused him angrily, "This grilled fish is amazing, and you didn’t invite me to eat it with you?! And to think I heard you got chewed out, so I rushed over to comfort you right after school. Bro, you’re heartless!"
Jiang Gong glanced at him. "Go close the door."