Chapter 198: Killing and Punishing the Heart

Xi Huaizhi looked like he had a lot to say, but before he could open his mouth, Ling Wu interrupted the words in his throat: "I know what you want to ask."

"Don't ask."

Xi Huaizhi had of course seen the red marks sucked onto his neck; such a forceful and domineering way to leave a mark invisibly spoke of possessiveness. He was an adult man and naturally understood what had happened, yet he found it extremely eyesore.

In the seven or eight years he had known Ling Wu, the other had kept himself clean and self-disciplined, politely rejecting men and women who confessed to him alike; he had shown no leisure or interest in romance.

So when this person appeared, Xi Huaizhi was the one who could stand it the least.

Xi Huaizhi's light blue eyes were as clean and clear as glass beads, but the dark emotions churning in the depths of his eyes at this moment shattered that clarity. His hands on the steering wheel could not help but tighten a fraction: "A-Wu, who is it?"

"Do you like him?"

His frustration and unwillingness were about to overflow.

After asking this question, he laughed at himself a little.

Ling Wu only said: "Drive."

He did not like to expose the softness and fragility of his inner heart.

Xi Huaizhi knew he had gone to Muya Snow Mountain, and when he thought of the few days he had been out of touch, he suddenly saw the light. He felt that he, who had just thought Ling Wu liked someone else, was an idiot, and he slammed the steering wheel hard: "I'll help you kill him!"

His look of hatred for evil made Ling Wu smile.

Ling Wu smiled magnanimously: "Don't worry."

"I'm perfectly fine."

Ling Wu's fair face faced the car window, looking at the hazy road ahead illuminated by the streetlights. The danger in the depths of his eyes spread silently. He blew into the biting winter wind, his whole person facing the wind, and did not make a sound.

To kill and punish the heart...

"We're both men, it's no big deal, just pretend you were bitten by a dog," Xi Huaizhi comforted, then rolled up the car window: "Next time I see that grandson, I'll have to break both his hands."

Ling Wu exhaled onto the car window and drew an 'X' with his finger: "Last time you said you were breaking into the Yin Family database, you were still missing an iris lock?"

Xi Huaizhi nodded: "Right."

"A-Wu, do you have a way?"

The shadows of rapidly receding buildings slid across Ling Wu's face, and the neon lights flickered with brilliant radiance. When he raised his eyes, his eyelids pressed into a narrow crease. His side profile was refined and handsome, carrying the coldness of winter, and he issued an order: "Notify everyone in the Organization within the Empire, issue a bounty, I want to capture Yin Huaiyu."

Xi Huaizhi was stunned for a moment: "Understood."

He could clearly feel Ling Wu's style of doing things becoming sharp; the steadiness, solidity, and step-by-step approach of the previous period were all for the final accumulation of strength.

Xi Huaizhi did not ask directly, but probed in a roundabout way: "A-Wu, Shi Yu was asking me a while ago if we were going back to the Federation for the New Year. Are we going back?"

The Empire's New Year is at the beginning of January, while the Federation's is slightly later.

If they finished dealing with the Empire's affairs in advance, they could still make it back to the Federation for the reunion dinner.

Ling Wu pondered for a few seconds: "If the operation is fast enough, we can make it back. I already have the Jing Family's defense map, and my plan is only one step away from the end. It will be soon."

"It's been hard on you, rushing around with me. Are you homesick?"

"You know, for families like ours, we are all wanderers; where would we have a fixed residence?" The speed of the car Xi Huaizhi was driving slowed down a bit, as if he were having a heart-to-heart with Ling Wu: "A-Wu, isn't it only after meeting you that it started to look a bit like a home?"

"Otherwise, I'd still be eating prison food under that idiot bird Pei Ziying."

Speaking of this matter that had ruined his reputation, Xi Huaizhi felt his teeth itch with anger.

The next day.

Ling Wu returned to the Jin Family Old Residence. Jin Shaoyu arrived in Beidu City quickly by private jet. After calling home to confirm that Ling Wu was home, he headed straight for the old residence.

Jin Liangjin patted Ling Wu on the shoulder: "It's good that you came back safely. You made the family worry, and your younger brother is almost home too."

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

Jin Shaoyu handed his backpack to the servant at the door. Before he even had time to change his shoes, he ran over when he saw Ling Wu's figure. He grabbed his arms with both hands and looked him up and down: "Don't move, let me see."

Ling Wu was wearing a wool coat that was not very thick, with the buttons open, revealing the turtleneck sweater inside. His whole person was no different from a few days ago, his complexion rosy.

"It's good that you're okay." Jin Shaoyu looked at him for a long time, and finally just said softly.

When Jin Liangjin saw Jin Shaoyu enter the door, he left the living room with Butler He, leaving them time to be alone.

At such times, he could never get a word in.

Ling Wu noticed that Jin Shaoyu's eye sockets were a bit red, and his eyes were full of bloodshot veins. He looked a bit dejected, as if he hadn't slept well for a long time.

He knew his younger brother must have cried.

But Ling Wu did not point it out. His lip line curved: "Shao Yu, you just came back from the Snow Mountain, go back to your room and rest first. We'll talk about anything tonight."

Jin Shaoyu was indeed very tired, and he said sullenly: "Mm."

After returning to his room.

Jin Shaoyu took a hot shower and came out wrapped in a bathrobe. His phone notification sounded; it was a message from Gu Xin. It was a document. After he clicked it open, he saw the research agreement of the Jin Family Gene Research Institute, which had Ling Tingwan's signature.

-Gu Xin: Second Young Master, we followed the direction of the forged medical records from the Central Hospital and discovered that the late Madam had signed this agreement before her death.

Jin Shaoyu's hand holding the phone tightened a fraction.

Gene Research Institute?

He remembered that a while ago, Jin Liangjin had ordered the dissolution of the research institute, and the last batch of drugs was also hijacked at Beijiaer Port.

Jin Shaoyu knew that his mother was engaged in weapons research; genetics was simply worlds apart from weapons. Why would Ling Tingwan sign this agreement?

It was impossible for Jin Liangjin not to know that she had signed this agreement, but he had never mentioned it.

He was even more vague about Ling Tingwan's death.

Doubts floated in Jin Shaoyu's mind. After peeling back the layers, he found that no matter what, he could not get around the name Jin Liangjin... Jin Liangjin, what exactly had he done?

Why make his mother sign this kind of agreement?

He felt he was one step closer to the truth.

-Jin Shaoyu: Keep watching.

-Gu Xin: Yes.

When Ling Wu went to Muya Snow Mountain to attend the winter camp, he did not let Davis go with him. In fact, the Academy did not allow it either. He did not want to be the one playing with privilege in the crowd.

Upon learning the news of the Eldest Young Master's return, Davis immediately rushed back to the Jin Family, and as he cut through the garden via the cobblestone path, he happened to catch sight of Jin Liangjin.

He thought to himself that this was bad.

In secret, Jin Liangjin had ordered him to stay by Ling Wu's side to provide close protection—which, to put it bluntly, meant surveillance—but Ling Wu was sharp-eared and keen-eyed, so naturally, Ling Wu was well aware that back at the Fang Family, the two of them had pierced through the window paper and brought this awkward relationship out into the open.

Davis had surrendered to Ling Wu and pledged his loyalty.

Seeing his former master now made things very awkward.

Jin Liangjin set down the watering can and called out to him in a casual manner: "Davis? It really has been a while since I last saw you."

This superficially amiable attitude of his was, in reality, a needle hidden in silk.

Just as Davis was struggling to respond, Ling Wu stood on the second-floor balcony, looking down at them from above; Ling Wu first gave a slight nod toward Jin Liangjin, then beckoned to Davis with a hooked finger, the gesture as languid as if teasing a kitten or a puppy: "Davis, come up."