Chapter 144: Journey into the Unknown
December had ushered in a chilly morning in Shanghai as Li Chen embarked on his jog to Chen Yunlong’s villa. The streets were quiet, and a thin veil of frost adorned the surroundings. Li Chen’s breath formed misty clouds in the crisp air as he moved swiftly through the deserted streets, the cold nipping at his exposed skin.
Upon reaching Chen Yunlong’s villa, the air inside was warmer but still carried a cool undertone. Li Chen engaged in an intense three-hour training session, guided by the seasoned expertise of the elderly Chen Yunlong. The villa echoed with the sounds of exertion and guidance, creating a focused atmosphere within its walls.
After the rigorous training, Li Chen jogged back home. The sun, though making an effort to break through the winter clouds, provided only a feeble warmth. Li Chen’s breath still visible, he returned to his residence, where a different kind of hustle awaited.
Entering his home, he found Zhang and Tang Ziyi in the midst of preparing to head to the office. They were dressed in layers, bracing against the cold as they finalized their plans for the day. The contrast between the intense physical training in the villa and the bustling preparations for work in his home marked the multifaceted nature of Li Chen’s daily life.
Li Chen addressed Zhang Mei, "I bought some herbs for your mom; I think they might help ease her pain."
Zhang Mei expressed her gratitude, "Really, thank you, Li Chen."
Li Chen assured her, "You can go; I will instruct the nurse to boil the herbs."
Tang Ziyi chimed in, "Zhang Mei, maybe Brother Chen will be able to help your mom like he did with Tang Junjie."
Zhang Mei responded cautiously, "I don’t want to raise my hopes too high, but I appreciate your effort, Li Chen."
Tang Ziyi urged, "Let’s go; we have to finalize a few things with the game before it launches."
Li Chen added, "Zhang Mei, I will email you that proposal we spoke about. Please read it as soon as you get the chance; maybe I can submit it later today."
Sun Lixia overheard the conversation as she walked into the living room, asking, "Hey, what proposal are you talking about?"
Li Chen explained, "For the land that will be auctioned."
Sun Lixia, intrigued, asked, "You’re thinking about real estate?"
Li Chen confirmed, "Yes."
Sun Lixia volunteered, "Let Zhang Mei do her things; I will check the proposal for you."
Li Chen appreciated the offer, saying, "Okay, thanks then."
After Zhang Mei and Tang Ziyi left, Li Chen called out the nurse to instruct her about the preparations of the herbs he had bought for Mu Lingling.
Li Chen could see that Sun Lixia had not slept well enough, and he said, "Mom, everything will be okay."
Sun Lixia responded, "I still feel like I should have known... I remember when I was about 6 months pregnant, and your dad joked because of how huge my stomach was."
She sighed and continued, "I will bring him back. I will get my boy back even if I die in the process."
Li Chen reassured her, "We all want him home, Mom. We will do it together."
Sun Lixia expressed her concern, "Do you think he will accept me? Will he learn to love me, or maybe he will hate me?"
Li Chen replied, "I know he won’t hate you. I have known you for a few weeks, so I know what he will be feeling."
Sun Lixia worried, "But he wasn’t raised like you. He was raised to be an assassin, with no emotions. I am sure he had been injected with NeuroNex a couple of times growing up... Oh my God, they turned my baby into a monster."
Li Chen comforted her, "He will be fine, Mom. We will figure out a cure."
Sun Lixia revealed, "Your father had almost figured out a cure before... he..."
Li Chen acknowledged, "Before he passed."
Sun Lixia said, "Yes, he was very smart, but that drug."
As they spoke, they were interrupted by the news playing on the TV they had not been paying attention to.
The news reporter announced, "Breaking news, a well-known real estate company, DreamScape Properties, owned by the Gu Family, has been sued for negligence after an incident that happened a year ago. The building under construction collapsed. The injured employees claimed that they had informed the higher-ups about the low-quality cement. The case is due to go to court in three days."
Sun Lixia and Li Chen shared a look and were not fully focused on the news.
As they listened, the reporter said, "Seems like it is a busy week in Shanghai as we have received news that the Sun family will be holding a grand banquet to welcome home their long-lost daughter. Some might remember the tragic news that the Sun family’s only daughter had been kidnapped 40 years ago when she just turned three years old. This banquet is going to be a very blissful one as the Sun family has seen its fair share of tragedy after the kidnapping of their daughter. Old Madam Sun later passed, and soon after, the wife of Master Sun Weilong also passed. We think this is the start of great fortune for the Sun family, and we will be there to broadcast the news for you, so stay tuned."
After the news broadcast, Li Chen remarked, "Uncle Weilong went as far as to inform all media outlets."
Sun Lixia said, "This is not bad... I still want to know the people responsible for my kidnapping, and I know the news will get them shaking."
The mother and son sat in silence, lost in their thoughts, and Sun Lixia knew things would be very messy from now on.
Despite the uncertainty, Sun Lixia harbored a determination to uncover the truth behind her kidnapping and bring justice to those responsible. Li Chen, standing by her side, understood that the road ahead would be challenging, yet they embraced the forthcoming struggles as they prepared for the grand banquet.
The air was thick with anticipation and unresolved mysteries, marking the end of one Chapter and the beginning of another, where the past and present collided in a crescendo of revelations and uncertainties.
