Chapter 199: Absent, Yet Overwhelming Presence

Before entering the underground laboratory you must hand over your phone; Jiang Lai was about to turn it off when a message popped up.

It's Ke Zhongyu.

There were still people behind her queuing to clock in; she shifted to the side and stood at the end of the line again.

Jiang Lai opened the message.

Ke Zhongyu: 【I have an urgent matter and am leaving the country; I'm not sure when I'll return. I'm traveling with a driver; contact Assistant Zhou if anything comes up.】

Jiang Lai stared at the text; it resembled a travel report and a pre‑departure reminder. It seemed to go beyond the scope of a partner and not quite that of a friend… maybe?

She didn't know what to reply at first, and after a long pause she sent a single character: 【Okay】.

Ke Zhongyu: 【Hmm】.

He replied almost instantly.

Jiang Lai stared at the screen for a while, until it was her turn again; before turning off the phone she sent Ke Zhongyu a line: 【I'm going into the lab now】.

She powered off, put on a protective suit, and entered the laboratory.

When she came out again it was already 5 p. m.

She hadn't had lunch at noon; being so busy that she forgets to eat and sleep is her norm, and she didn't think much of it. After leaving the Research and Development Center she saw Ke Zhongying waiting for her there.

"Sister Jiang Lai!" Ke Zhongying ran over.

Jiang Lai took off her mask and dust hat: "Why did you come?"

"I have no idea who gets so busy they skip lunch, it's driving me crazy." Ke Zhongyu was so anxious that they could finally speak to her properly.

Ke Zhongying linked her arm with Jiang Lai's and headed toward the main building, "Mo Yi has even come herself to deliver you; be careful, Mo Yi might scold you later. She's been taking care of your health recently, and you actually disrupted her rhythm!"

Jiang Lai felt a warmth inside; she knew Ke Zhongying was exaggerating, but she still apologized.

"I'll apologize to Mo Yi in a moment."

"Never mind, never mind, Mo Yi would never actually be angry with you."

Mo Yi, carrying dinner, was in the CEO's office lounge; when she saw Jiang Lai she immediately opened the food, muttering, "Miss Jiang, you must remember to eat on schedule; only then can you nurture a healthy body."

"I was busy and forgot; I'll remember next time," Jiang Lai said as she sat down; Mo Yi and Ke Zhongying also sat opposite her, they didn't eat, just watched her eat.

Jiang Lai asked curiously, "How did you know I didn't have lunch?"

Ke Zhongying: "Secretary Guan sent you a message asking if you wanted to go to the cafeteria at noon; you didn't reply, so she told us. By 'we' we mean me, Mo Yi, and my brother."

Ke Zhongyu was clearly not here, yet Jiang Lai could always hear Ke Zhongyu's messages; when she looked at the people around her, they were all linked to Ke Zhongyu. He seemed to be everywhere—how could anyone's sense of presence be so strong?

Jiang Lai drifted into a daze.

Until a phone call broke her thoughts.

"Hello, Zhong Lü."

"Miss Jiang, we have already mailed the lawyer's letter, first putting it in a white envelope and then into an EMS bag; we photographed everything for evidence."

"Thanks for your effort, Zhong Lü."

"You're welcome, Miss Jiang, goodbye."

She hung up, looked at Ke Zhongying and Mo Yi, and briefly explained the matter.

Ke Zhongying smiled and said, "The future will be a profusion of splendid blossoms!"

Jiang Lai looked at her: "Graduating soon, a brilliant future."

The lawyer's letter was delivered to the Ji Family; the nanny signed for the courier, saw the recipient listed as Lin Shutong, and muttered, "How come Miss Lin's package arrived just after she left?"

Lin Shutong had already left the Ji Family for over half an hour; turning back would be troublesome, so she told the nanny to hold onto it and open it later when she had time.

But who sent her the documents?

Lu Hongyuan?

Lin Shutong came to the Ji Family today precisely because of Lu Hongyuan's company's Crystal Core research project; Lu Hongyuan had contacted her grandfather.

Lu Hongyuan's project does not belong to the national research institute; Ji Lao had originally looked down on it, since companies focus on products, demand mass production, and there will be no academic papers, with patents belonging to the corporation.

But Lu Hongyuan's undertaking fills a huge market gap; if it succeeds, it will become a springboard for Lin Shutong.

Ji Lao agreed, specifically called his granddaughter over to discuss this, and casually asked how she gets along with Gu Zhiyan.

Ji Lao certainly disapproved of his granddaughter being with a married man.

Lin Shutong didn't dare tell her grandfather about her pregnancy, but she mentioned that Shen Xun had already divorced.

Ji Lao became displeased upon hearing Shen Xun's name, and Lin Shutong didn't dare stay longer, fearing her pregnancy would be exposed; the old man values face above all.

Moreover, Lin Shutong planned to go find Shen Xun.

She heard from Xie Yongsi that Shen Xun has been refusing food and drink since being hospitalized; how can that be?

If Shen Xun's health collapses, what about her and the child in her womb?

She could never abort the child.

As long as the child lives, her connection with Shen Xun cannot be cut; whatever happens, Shen Xun will bear it for her.

Lin Shutong learned from Xie Yongsi that Shen Xun now lives at Nan Shan Shiyi Hao; she drove there, but was stopped at the community gate.

She happened to encounter Shen Xi, who was moving belongings over; Shen Xi saw her and wanted to curse, but the next second forced herself not to, because she still hadn't gotten Lin Shutong's pregnancy report!

Since she can't obtain it, coaxing her into a recorded confession should work, right?

So she let the security guard let her through.

The guard required Lin Shutong to register; without registration she couldn't enter.

Lin Shutong gave Shen Xi a strange look until both got out of the car; Shen Xi then asked, "I heard you're pregnant? Is the baby my brother's?"

Shen Xi had already opened the voice recorder on her phone.

Lin Shutong knew Shen Xi all too well; she's clueless, easy to be used as a gun, with a bit of scheming plainly displayed on her face.

Before, she had violently beaten her over money; would she stop just because there's a child in her womb?

Moreover, her pregnancy is a sensitive matter; Jiang Lai seized on this, and since Shen Xun cheated on her, the fact that she is the other woman becomes undeniable.

Lin Shutong didn't answer directly, but asked her: "How is your brother doing?"

Not getting the answer she wanted, Shen Xi rolled her eyes: "Making it seem like I don't know you're pregnant with my brother's child, you shameless mistress."

Lin Shutong resentfully watched Shen Xi's back, then followed and stepped inside.

Shen's father and mother seeing her, obviously stunned for a moment.

Lin Shutong deceived their son out of money and sex, and even broke up their son's marriage with Jiang Lai, yet she is carrying the Shen family's seed in her belly.

As a result, Shen's father and mother's feelings toward her became complicated.

But a pleasant expression was certainly absent.

Mother Shen: "What are you here for?"

Lin Shutong used to be popular in the Shen family, but now, even pregnant, she only gets cold treatment; she feels utterly stifled, yet she must act as gentle and generous as before.

"I came to see Ah Xun, and also about the child."

Upon mentioning the child, Mother Shen said: "The room on the second floor."

Lin Shutong gave them a slight nod, went upstairs, and behind her came the mocking voices of Shen Xi and Mother Shen.

"Still pretending to be kind? Tch."

"Keep it down, you're still carrying your brother's child."

"My brother doesn't want it? Some people just want to play the 'relying on a child for status' act—give it a rest."

Lin Shutong's face darkened, her fingernails digging deep into her leather bag; she paused, wanting to scold Shen Xi, but could only hold back.

At times like this, it's still best not to make enemies.

Lin Shutong marched up to Shen Xun's room door, head high and chest out, pushed the door open, and just happened to hear a sentence.

"Have you finished the G Province matter? If so, come back right away."