Beneath the Marriage Pact

Chapter 5: Uncle's Feast at Hongmen (2)

"Shen Zhixia!" Ling Xu 'an hugged her, his voice shaking, "Are you stupid? Why are you taking my place? !"

"I'm fine..." Shen Zhixia gritted her teeth and smiled, pointing at Ling Zhengxiong in his hand, "Don't let him run away... "Usb drive..."

Before he could finish speaking, he fainted. The last thing he saw before fainting was Ling Xu 'an's red eyes, like a wounded Wolf.

When he woke up again, he was already in the hospital, with thick bandages around his arms and less pain. Ling Xu 'an fell asleep by the bedside, with heavy dark circles under his eyes and stubble, looking much more haggard.

Shen Zhixia raised her hand to touch his face, and just as her fingertips touched his chin, he woke up, grabbed her hand and kissed her lips: "Awake? Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore." Shen Zhixia shook her head. "Where's Ling Zhengxiong? Things on the USB drive..."

"He was taken away by the police." Ling Xu 'an's voice was hoarse. "The USB drive contained evidence of his collusion with Qin Zheng and the complete version of the 'Starlight Project' data left by your mother back then - more complete than we found in the warehouse."

Shen Zhixia heaved a sigh of relief, and the stone in her heart finally fell. "That's good..."

"Not good." Ling Xu 'an held her hand, his eyes serious enough to make one feel nervous. "Shen Zhixia, you're not allowed to shield me anymore, do you hear me? If something happens to you, I..."

He didn't go on, but Shen Zhixia understood. She looked at his red-rimmed eyes and suddenly laughed: "Then you mustn't get hurt again. We'll still be together... "Go and see the scenery."

Ling Xu 'an held her in his arms with a very light force, as if afraid of hurting her wound. "All right." He whispered in her ear, his voice a little choked, "As you say."

Ling Xu 'an stayed with Shen Zhixia in the ward for two days and didn't even return to the company - Chen Mo called him three times to urge him to sign the final agreement of the merger, but each time he retorted, "Let the legal department review it first."

"If Mr. Ling doesn't go to the company soon, his men will think you've been abducted by aliens." Shen Zhixia leaned against the bedside to drink porridge, watching him frown at his laptop and revise reports, and couldn't help teasing. The wound on her arm was healing well and the doctor said she would be discharged in two more days.

Ling Xu 'an didn't even raise his head: "Before the aliens kidnap me, they have to first ask the report in my hand if it agrees." " His keyboard fingers paused for a moment, then suddenly turned to stare at her, "Is there enough porridge? Would you like Uncle Zhao to make some more pigeon soup?

"Enough, enough. If I drink any more, I'll become a pigeon." Shen Zhixia handed him the bowl. "Seriously, go back and have a look. What if the company is sold by Chen Mo?"

"He dares." Ling Xu 'an took the bowl and placed it on the bedside table, reached out and pinched her face. "If he dares to sell the company, I'll pack him up and sell him to mining in Southeast Asia."

Just as he was saying this, the door of the ward was pushed open and Chen Mo came in carrying a fruit basket, with a smile on his face: "Boss, Miss Shen, I'll deliver some fruit." He put the basket down and secretly gave Shen Zhixia a look that read, "Save me."

Shen Zhixia held back his laughter: "Assistant Chen, is there something?"

"It's nothing serious." Chen Mo rubbed his hands. "It's just an email from the North American branch saying they want a video conference with the boss..."

"I turned it down." Ling Xu 'an refused without a second thought.

"No, boss!" Chen Mo is anxious. "It's about new energy cooperation! The other said... They said they would only sign the contract if they wanted to see the core data of the Starlight Project!"

Shen Zhixia felt a stir -- the full version of the data of the Starlight Project was on that USB drive, and Ling Xu 'an had said yesterday that he would ask experts to assess the feasibility.

"Go ahead," he said. She nudged Ling Xu 'an's arm. "Business is important. I can't run away here. Uncle Zhao is still outside."

Ling Xu 'an stared at her for a long time, as if to make sure she was really okay. Finally, he gave in and picked up his suit jacket: "Call me immediately if you need anything. Don't get out of bed and wander around."

"Got it, Mr. Ling." Shen Zhixia smiled and nodded.

After Ling Xu 'an left, Chen Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief, took out a small box from his pocket and handed it to Shen Zhixia: "Miss Shen, this is what the boss asked me to buy for you."

It was a thin bracelet with a small gardenia pendant hanging from the silver chain, exactly the same as the pattern on the brocade given by Grandpa Ling.

"The boss spent three hours in the jewelry store yesterday." Chen Mo said in a low voice, "and asked the master to engrave words on the back of the pendant. Feel it."

Shen Zhixia touched the back of the pendant with her fingertip, and indeed there were two tiny characters - "Zhixia". She felt warm in her heart and couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth.

"By the way, Miss Shen," Chen Mo suddenly became serious, "Both Ling Zhengxiong and Qin Zheng have recruited." Qin Zheng said it was Ling Zhengxiong who forced him to harm Aunt Shen. Ling Zhengxiong wanted the data of the Star Project, but was afraid Aunt Shen wouldn't agree, so he conspired with Qin Zheng to set up a trap. He paused, "And Shen Hongyuan, the evidence of his embezzlement of public funds is conclusive. He is likely to be sentenced to quite a few years in prison."

Shen Zhixia nodded, feeling nothing in his heart. Those who have done something wrong deserve to pay the price.

"What about Shen Yuwei?" She asked.

"She offered a lot of evidence and was given a reprieve." Chen Mo sighed, "I came to the hospital yesterday to look for you, but was stopped by the boss."

Shen Zhixia was stunned: "Why did she come to me?"

"I don't know. Just say I want to apologize to you." Chen Mo scratched his head. "The boss told her not to show up again in the future so as not to upset you."

Shen Zhixia said nothing, just stroking the gardenia pendant on her bracelet. Perhaps some people and things, it's better not to see them.

Ling Xu 'an came back from the meeting with a thermos in his hand, which contained freshly stewed rock sugar pear. "The doctor said you have a bit of a cough, drink this to moisten your throat." He scooped a spoonful and brought it to her mouth.

Shen Zhixia opened her mouth and drank, and the sweet pear juice slid down her throat, making her feel much better. "A deal with the North American branch?"

"Um." Ling Xu 'an nodded. "They looked at the data of the Starlight Project and were satisfied, saying they wanted to start mass production as soon as possible." He paused and looked at her with a sparkle in his eyes, "Zhi Xia, your mother's hard work can finally come in handy."

Shen Zhixia's eyes suddenly welled up. Yes, the thing that Mom has been guarding all her life is finally going to be known by more people.

"Right," Ling Xu 'an, as if remembering something, took out a small red notebook from his pocket and handed it to her, "keep this one."

It was a marriage certificate. The two in the photo are very close together. She smiles with her eyebrows and eyes curved, and he has a faint smile on the corner of his mouth, looking a perfect match.

"When did you do it?" "Shen Zhixia asked in surprise. She remembered they hadn't gone to the civil affairs office yet.

"I asked Chen Mo to handle it yesterday." Ling Xu 'an scratched his head, a little embarrassed, "I'm afraid you'll change your mind."

Shen Zhixia looked at his slightly red ears and couldn't help laughing: "Mr. Ling has his moments of fear, too?"

"Scared." " Ling Xu 'an held her hand, his eyes serious. "I'm afraid you won't marry me."

Shen Zhixia felt as if something had struck her heart, warm. She held the marriage certificate in her arms and looked up at Ling Xu 'an: "Ling Xu 'an, when are we going to get married?"

"You can do it whenever you want." Ling Xu 'an laughed, "Even if you want to do it now, I can conjure up a wedding for you right away."

"Not at all." Shen Zhixia pursed her lips. "I'm going to prepare well and make the most beautiful wedding."

"All right." Ling Xu 'an lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll listen to you."

The day she was discharged, the sun was shining brightly. Ling Xu 'an drove Shen Zhixia to the cemetery on the outskirts where her mother's ashes had been moved, and a small photo of her smiling gently was embedded in the tombstone.

Shen Zhixia placed the half piece of broken jade and the jade pendant given by Grandpa Ling in front of the tombstone, along with a bunch of fresh gardenias. "Mom, I'm here to see you." She crouched in front of the tombstone in a soft voice, "Qin Zheng and Ling Zhengxiong have been punished. You can rest assured."

"I married Ling Xu 'an." "He's been very nice to me and we'll live well in the future," she said with a smile. The 'Starlight project' you left behind is about to go into mass production, and soon many people will use the clean energy you developed... Mom, did you hear that? Everything you do is worth it."

Ling Xu 'an stood behind her, gently patting her back. The wind blew through the cemetery, bringing a faint fragrance of gardenias, like a gentle response from a mother.