The wooden beauty of Young Master Sheng(186-190)

Chapter 186: Only Hatred Left


Jiang Chenchen's vision blurred, and she tried to struggle but had no strength.


Something was added to the red wine.


She drifted into unconsciousness.


The red wine glass in her hand shattered on the rocks.


The crisp sound echoed on the silent beach, soon covered by the rolling waves.


Zhan Chen held her in his arms, and her phone inside her handbag vibrated.


He lowered his gaze to retrieve the phone, without bothering to look, he tossed it into the sea.


The person was now in his arms, by his side; there was no escape.


He gently stroked her cheek. She was the only person in the world he wanted to keep by his side. But why did she only want to leave?


Then, let's lock it up.


...


When Jiang Chenchen woke up, she was in the castle room she had stayed in. The clock on the wall showed it was noon.


She had slept from last night until now.


She vividly remembered Zhan Chen saying there was no return ticket, and he didn't plan on letting her go back.


Her evening gown had been replaced with a comfortable nightdress, but she didn't care about that. She rushed to the door, but it was locked and wouldn't open.


The window!


The window was also nailed shut.


Another imprisonment?


She hurriedly looked for her phone, but it was nowhere to be found.


There was a telephone in the room. She quickly dialed a number, but the call wouldn't go through. However, when she tried to call Zhan Chen, it connected.


He answered, "You're awake."


"Let me out!"


"Are you hungry?"


"Let me out!"


"Chenchen, if you want to leave, I'll accompany you."


The call ended. Jiang Chenchen walked to the door, waiting for someone outside to come. The sound of the password lock echoed, and as the door opened, she rushed towards the person outside!


But the person she grabbed by the neck was just a maid.


Zhan Chen stood behind her, holding a gift box.


Three or four maids stood beside him.


The maid looked terrified, struggling to breathe. Jiang Chenchen had indeed been ruthless when she attacked. She had hoped to grab Zhan Chen and break free from this imprisonment.


But the one who opened the door wasn't Zhan Chen, and it was too late for her to change her actions.


Because Zhan Chen handed the gift box to the maid behind him, took out a knife from his sleeve, and pressed it against the maid's throat. "Do you want her to die? Use this."


Jiang Chenchen reached out and grabbed his hand. "I don't want anyone to die. I want to leave. Let me go!"


Zhan Chen gazed at her with gentle eyes, but a cruel smile curled his lips. "Unless you kill everyone here, you won't get away."


Jiang Chenchen took two steps back, locking eyes with him. "Why? I hate people who lie to me, Zhan Chen. I will hate you."





Chapter 186: Only Hatred Left

Jiang Chenchen took two steps back, staring directly into his eyes. "Why? I hate people who lie to me, Zhan Chen. I will hate you."


Zhan Chen wiped the blood from the knife with a handkerchief and responded, "Hate me if you want. Even if you hate me, I won't let you leave my side. If you attempt to escape, all these maids watching you will lose their lives. Chenchen, you need to think about it. Their lives are in your hands."


Jiang Chenchen felt like she was going mad. He was absolutely capable of doing such things. She had come here because she feared he would harm her friends, even Shen Mingsi. Yet, she found herself in this predicament.


"It's you who would kill them, not me!"


Zhan Chen paused with the knife in his hand. "Chenchen, I can do anything for you."


Jiang Chenchen vehemently argued, never having been one to lose control. "It's not for me! It's your selfishness that destroyed yourself. Seeing you now, I'm left with nothing but disgust."


"If you hate me that much, kill me and leave from here."


He handed her the knife.


It was the same knife he always carried with him, exceptionally sharp, quite different from the one used to cut steak yesterday.


If Jiang Chenchen held this knife, she could easily slit his throat. She snatched the knife from him, the desire to go back overwhelming. If she remained trapped here, unable to see the people she wanted to see, would living even have meaning?


With almost no hesitation, she thrust the knife towards him. The bodyguards, including Ning Yi, nearby were scared, ready to shoot her!


But Zhan Chen didn't give any orders, and no one dared to act recklessly.


All eyes were on her as the knife moved from the throat down to the shoulder. "I can't do it, not because I don't hate you, but because I can't kill."


She withdrew the knife. "But I can't guarantee that one day I won't go crazy and use this knife to end my own life."


She retreated to her room, closing the door. Sitting by the door, she calmed her emotions, thinking about how to make Zhan Chen let her go.


After a long time of fruitless pondering, time passed, and from day to night, the meals sent to her remained untouched.


As night fell, she should have been on the return flight. Yet, she couldn't leave, and she didn't even have her phone.


When Zhan Chen came to see her, Jiang Chenchen held the knife, warning him to stay away.


Her expression was indifferent, filled with disgust. Any of these emotions would be enough to hurt him, but he took it all in, knowing the outcome.


He took the knife from her hand and slashed his palm without hesitation. Due to his weakened state, not much blood came out.


This unexpected action left Jiang Chenchen bewildered. She reached for his wrist, thinking he had truly gone mad. In the past, he wouldn't hesitate to hurt others, and now he even spared himself.


"What are you doing?"


Zhan Chen looked at the blood oozing from his palm. His face was pale, lacking any color, but when he looked at her, a gentle smile appeared. "Chenchen, if you don't eat, I'll make another cut."


Jiang Chenchen let go of his wrist, unable to comprehend his actions.


Seeing her lack of response, Zhan Chen cut his palm again, without any hesitation, as if slicing through tofu.


He didn't make a sound, but the painful expression on his pale face was clear. Yet, his eyes remained firm.


This time, Jiang Chenchen completely surrendered.


This person, so insane and frightening, could be so cruel even to himself. This Zhan Chen, who could be driven mad by Shen Mingsi, couldn't be predicted.


If, because of her, Sheng Mingsi suffered harm or even lost his life, she would probably never forgive herself.


She surrendered, but it didn't mean she was willing to see Zhan Chen.


Every day, she willingly stayed locked up, refusing to go downstairs, losing all will to live. Yet, he always found a way to threaten her.


Time passed day by day.


She had no idea that Sheng Mingsi, upon learning she had come to Country A, went mad. He flew to Country A, searching everywhere for her!







Chapter 187: But She Doesn't Want to See You


While Jiang Chenchen was locked in this house, Shen Mingsi, worried about her safety, sent people to investigate her whereabouts and directly went to meet the prince of Country A.


He had an appointment with the prince to meet Zhan Chen.


To meet Zhan Chen directly, such a direct and quick method was necessary.


Jiang Chenchen had never contacted him during this time, presumably being confined and unable to leave.


Although he was anxious about Jiang Chenchen's safety, he couldn't afford to lose his composure. Negotiating directly with Zhan Chen was out of the question.


Sheng Mingsi had even arranged ambushes and tracking at the agreed-upon hotel. If things weren't settled at the banquet, he would have to take action privately.


Despite being in their territory, he was prepared for any risks.


Zhan Chen arrived as agreed, appearing to be in poor spirits as he came in a wheelchair.


There was a shallow scar on his left cheek, like a mark left by a knife.


He didn't bother to conceal it, dressing formally as if he had come for a grand appointment.


When he saw Sheng Mingsi, he wasn't very surprised. After all, someone had informed him as soon as this person set foot in this land.


But so what?


The prince of Country A, Mori, didn't know that they knew each other. They even introduced themselves formally, thinking that Mr. Sheng, a wealthy and influential figure from a neighboring country, wanted to establish some business deals with Zhan Chen.


After the introduction, Mori, having finished half a glass of wine, gave up the venue to them and left first.


The atmosphere in the luxurious restaurant was oppressive and dull. Zhan Chen appeared very considerate by inviting two beautiful women to accompany them.


Sheng Mingsi, with a cold face, declined, "Don't do these unnecessary things. Hand Chenchen over! I know she must be with you!"


In his cold and stern demeanor, no woman dared to approach him, despite his handsome and majestic appearance.


Seeing this, Zhan Chen, with a slight sense of amazement, remarked, "Mr. Sheng, may I ask what qualifies you to ask me for someone? How do you know she didn't willingly stay by my side?"


Sheng Mingsi sneered, "Do you think I'll believe your nonsense? She wouldn't disappear without reason, all of this is because you've imprisoned Chenchen, making her unable to leave."


Zhan Chen rested his arms on the table. Both of his palms were wrapped in gauze, and he supported his chin as he looked at Shen Mingsi with composure. "Sometimes people shouldn't be blindly confident. Nowadays, she just sees through your true colors and doesn't want to see you anymore."


Sheng Mingsi's face darkened like the night. He maintained his calm and glanced at him icily. "What's the point of saying so much? Prove it by letting her come out to see me. I'll only listen to what she says, not what you say."


Zhan Chen's scar on his left cheek twitched slightly. He clenched his hands wrapped in gauze and spoke softly, "But she doesn't want to see you at all."


Looking at the man opposite him exuding a sharp, cold, and gloomy aura, Zhan Chen's expression became even more serene and gentle. It was like a moonlight shrouded in mist.


The deep killing intent in his eyes became more profound.


This man was someone he had a strong desire to eliminate because he occupied Jiang Chenchen's heart. That pure and white heart that should have belonged to him had been corroded and was now unforgivable, damnable.


However, due to a promise, he couldn't kill him.


How contradictory and painful it was. The blood in his body even seemed to surge uncontrollably, and he couldn't restrain his hands.


Sheng Mingsi stared at his face with a dark, night-like expression, suppressing every ounce of fierce emotion churning in his chest. He coldly said, "You will pay the price for what you've done."


Zhan Chen remained composed. "I've never been afraid of anything to reach this point. What about you, Mr. Shen?"


"Oh?'" Sheng Mingsi's gaze held a deep meaning, like a warning prophecy. He stood up abruptly and left without hesitation.


After Zhan Chen watched his figure completely disappear, he said to the person beside him, "Keep an eye on him. Report everything he does."


He wanted to see what kind of waves this man could stir up on his territory.


On the way back to the castle, he felt someone was following him.


He wanted to see what waves this person could stir up on his territory.


On the way back to the castle, he felt someone was tracking him.


This kind of crude tracking method didn't seem to fit Mr. Sheng's usual careful approach. After all the obvious tracking, there must be more discreet surveillance from the shadows.


In his position, he might face potential assassins every day. He knew how to deal with them efficiently and thoroughly, not only avoiding those people but also eliminating them completely to prevent future trouble.


The people under his command couldn't be fed for nothing.


With a command given, his car was covered, leaving discreetly. The rest of the work was left to his subordinates.


The car moved through the dark night.


The driver's skills were excellent—fast and steady. Ning Yi, sitting on the other side, reported from the front. The information about the people tracking them indicated that Shen Mingsi had returned to the hotel and hadn't come out since.


Zhan Chen found it suspicious. If Sheng Mingsi could come here to find someone, he wouldn't easily give up. Perhaps giving orders like this was just a diversion, and there might be other actions.


As for what it was, he had someone pretend to be a waiter to go into his room to check if he was still in the hotel.


Soon, he got a reply.


Not there.


Just as he expected!


Ning Yi was surprised. "How could this happen? Clearly, someone was closely monitoring him."


"If even this kind of surveillance can't be avoided, then he wouldn't be Mr. Sheng from the Sheng Consortium. Check the surveillance footage; we can always find some clues. Moreover..." Zhan Chen pondered for a moment. "We have to take his previous words seriously. He might be plotting something. Be cautious recently."


Ning Yi knew that Master Zhan always thought carefully, but he still had some doubts. "Even if he has some tricks, he's powerless on our territory. After all, the people he brought are limited, and spending money to hire thugs won't escape our surveillance. The entire underground trade is in our hands."


"Country A is not just mine. There are places beyond my reach, and there are quite a few who want me dead."


Zhan Chen glanced lightly, and Ning Yi was startled. He had underestimated the enemy.


"I'll immediately have someone investigate Shen Mingsi's whereabouts!"


Zhan Chen was very tired and didn't say anything more. However, he couldn't sleep. Although he could feel his body gradually weakening, his heart was so empty. Even the surging blood in his body couldn't fill the uneasiness within him.


Jiang Chenchen still refused to see him. Even if she was forced to see him due to various threats, she would never utter a word.


It was just like before, when she remained silent.


But she would speak. Her voice, calm and monotonous, without any fluctuations, could calm his heart. Whether facing hatred or his mother's sickbed, he could find solace.


So, how could he remain silent?


Sitting in a wheelchair, he reached out and grabbed her neck in front of him.








Chapter 188: Grant a Wish


"If you don't speak again, you might as well lose your voice completely."


"Isn't that right?"


Zhan Chen looked at the girl in front of him. Even when her throat was being squeezed, she showed no struggle or any sign of pain. She was like an exquisite doll, lifeless and inert.


A hint of pain flashed in his eyes. "Why do you treat me like this? Are you so unwilling to stay here?"


He released his grip on her neck and gently traced the marks left by his fingers.


Both of his hands, wrapped in bloody bandages due to his forceful actions, stained the bandages red. The blood seeped onto her fair and moist skin, making the necklace on her neck stand out.


Jiang Chenchen was a bit nervous. The necklace was the only important thing to her right now, and she feared he might tear it off and throw it in the trash.


She reached out to move his hand away, just looking at him with lifeless eyes. "Let me go, and maybe I'll forgive everything you've done. Otherwise, I'm just a lifeless shell here."


"Chenchen, are you threatening me?" Zhan Chen easily caught her reaction. His gaze fell on the necklace around her neck. "What about this? Was it a gift from Mr. Sheng?"


If it was something that made her care more than him, his instinctive jealousy and possessiveness would make him want to destroy it, even if it was just a necklace.


Without looking into his eyes, Jiang Chenchen shifted her gaze to his hands. "Your hands are bleeding."


She grabbed his wrist.


This prevented him from taking action.


Zhan Chen should have realized that destroying something that made him panic was unnecessary. However, with just her words, all his hostility disappeared in an instant, replaced by a long-lost trace of concern.


He looked at her with a deep and heavy gaze. "Chenchen, if bleeding gets your attention, I don't mind bleeding a bit more."


Jiang Chenchen truly underestimated his madness. He had cut so many wounds on both his palms and even a scar on his face. Considering his physical condition, he did all this just to draw her attention and make her compromise.


Although she could understand the fear of losing something, she found his relentless confinement, threats, and suffocation unbearable.


"You're quite sick."


She said so.


Only thinking about this could explain his actions.


"Grant me one more wish."


Under Jiang Chenchen's expressionless gaze, Zhan Chen said.


"Do you want to let me go?"


"Accompany me to a place."


"Now?"


...


When Sheng Mingsi finally approached the castle, it was already past two in the morning. However, he couldn't get close yet. The place was heavily guarded, comparable to a palace. The guards were armed, and he couldn't make any reckless moves.


Once he determined the location, he could start planning.


The people who were tracking Zhan Chen lost contact quickly; both overt and covert operatives were dealt with. The reason he could find this place was by following those who were tracking him. He had prepared early, not only establishing a force here but also contacting others.


However, Sheng Mingsi never underestimated Zhan Chen's capabilities here. A person who rose to a high position from the chaos of battles relied not only on his tactics but also on his intelligence.


He didn't underestimate it, and everything would proceed according to plan.


But the thought that Jiang Chenchen might be inside and he hadn't seen her for a long time filled Sheng Mingsi with anxiety and unease.


Had she been bullied or harmed?


When she was young, she might not have understood fear and might not have been aware of anything beside that person. But the current Jiang Chenchen was no longer the same. Being imprisoned in a place that eroded one's will and crushed one's mentality was terrifying.


The most frightening part was having to face an adult man with a penchant for killing.


As he thought of this, Sheng Mingsi's face darkened like an abyss, and a sinister aura surged throughout his body. He wanted to rush in and save her immediately.


However, impulsive actions wouldn't save anyone; they might even miss the chance to rescue her.


So, despite the possibility that she might be inside, he couldn't take immediate action. He had to steady his emotions, silently gaze at the castle in the darkness, and resolve to rescue her as soon as possible.


At most, it wouldn't exceed two days.


Two days was his limit. He couldn't tolerate Jiang Chenchen being trapped here while he helplessly watched.


He received a message from Wu Bi, read the information on his phone, put the phone down, gave one last look at the castle, and then turned to leave.


He had no idea that Jiang Chenchen was not currently in the castle. Instead, she was in a villa tower built against the mountain. In a room on the top floor with glass facilities and an astronomical telescope, Zhan Chen had brought Jiang Chenchen here to let her gaze at the stars.


Jiang Chenchen looked at him, not quite understanding why there was such a room and equipment here, allowing a full view of the stars in the sky. What kind of wish could be associated with this?


Was accompanying him to watch the stars considered a wish?


In this top-floor glass room, brightly lit, Zhan Chen, sitting in a wheelchair, looked indistinct, and his voice was low. "Because I can't see the stars."


Jiang Chenchen looked at him, a bit puzzled. With the astronomical telescope in this room, the entire night sky was within her sight. She said, "The stars are visible."


She turned away, but he uttered, "I can't see the stars anymore."


The bright lights made his face appear paler, and when he said this, his gaze was fixed outside the window.


His voice sounded somewhat ethereal.


Even though he had a pair of eyes as clear and mysterious as moonlight, he couldn't see the stars.


"Because of the illness?"


Jiang Chenchen quickly figured out the reason. He underwent treatments every afternoon, tubes inserted all over his body, and his condition had become severe.


Zhan Chen chuckled lightly, a short and faint smile. "Yes, so please help me find the brightest star and make a wish for me."


Although Jiang Chenchen found him disgusting when he went mad, she felt sorry for him when she learned that he couldn't see the stars. The most beautiful night sky, which she would unconsciously lift her head to gaze at, seemed to bring pure joy.


But he couldn't see the stars anymore.


The suffering and madness caused by illness were truly distressing.


Jiang Chenchen looked back at the telescope, quickly found the brightest star, pressed down on it, and asked the person beside her, "I see it. What wish do you want to make?"







Chapter 189: Revealing the Secret to Him


Zhan Chen looked up at her, his eyes gleaming with a fragile and delicate light, portraying the image of a vulnerable and beautiful young man.


"Please be my eyes for a while, Chenchen. Describe how the night sky looks," he said, his wish not stemming from a genuine love for the stars, as there was nothing in this world that he truly cared about. It was merely an attempt to unveil his vulnerability, hoping to gain a bit of her sympathy.


Under the starry sky, he wanted to see her come alive, not the emotionless puppet she appeared to be in the castle. That was all.


Jiang Chenchen nodded in response to his request. For such a simple wish, she was willing to fulfill it easily. If he weren't someone with an extreme desire for control, she would have been happy to be his friend.


But he wasn't. He was the one who imprisoned her, the one who would harm Sheng Mingsi. Such behavior only made her want to escape.


While she described the stars to him, using simple words and a steady tone, Zhan Chen's eyes sparkled with light. The moonlight brightened up, and compared to the stars in the night sky, the person in front of him was more attractive. Yet, such people always wanted to escape from him—so disobedient.


He didn't understand why he was always abandoned. Was it due to his inherently defective life, or was it a curse in his fate?


"If one day, I jump from this high building, would you shed a tear for me?" he asked suddenly, making Jiang Chenchen pause and turn to him in confusion.


"What are you talking about?"


Zhan Chen chuckled lightly. "Just consider it as my ranting due to frustration from being unable to see the stars."


Jiang Chenchen hesitated for a moment and asked, "Isn't the treatment effective?"


"It's useless. It's a hereditary condition in the family. Inescapable fate," Zhan Chen replied, leaning wearily on the wheelchair. His eyes were gentle yet filled with a layer of resentment.


"Do you think they were ridiculous back then, giving their all to be together, knowing that being together was the source of pain? Father's life ended at the age of thirty, and Mother quickly forgot, forming a new family. It's as if everything before became a joke. Do you think they're ridiculous?"


Jiang Chenchen looked at him, genuinely not understanding people's actions. Just like Sheng Mingsi's father betraying their family.


They had other choices, yet they chose the most hurtful way.


Zhan Chen's illness was passed down from the previous generation, and he had been destined since birth.


"I don't know how to comfort you or what to say to you. If telling you my story can bring you comfort, then let me share it with you. Do you want to hear it?" Jiang Chenchen asked earnestly.


Zhan Chen had never heard her tell her story. Even though he hadn't mentioned it, he had investigated and knew the details. However, hearing her voluntarily speak about it made him pleasantly surprised. It was a strong sense of being trusted, a feeling he hadn't experienced since leaving his mother's side.


He nodded, his gaze tender. "I'm listening."


Jiang Chenchen recounted her experiences, from the laboratory fire where her parents died, to being trapped in the laboratory and used for strange experiments by researchers. She continued to describe how those researchers also perished in the fire.


She had never told anyone these specific details, not even Sheng Mingsi. It wasn't about mistrusting him; it was about caring for him and not wanting him to feel the pain she had endured, even though her body had long become numb, unable to feel the pain.


After her consciousness awakened, being treated like an experimental animal was far from ordinary.



Her body had certain differences from others in some aspects, and these potential issues might cause trouble for him if he knew about them.


She didn't want to put him in jeopardy.


As for Zhan Chen, Jiang Chenchen genuinely trusted him. Despite disliking his methods of imprisonment, she couldn't deny that Zhan Chen had never harbored genuine animosity towards her, both in the past two years and now.


Since he belonged to the realm of darkness, why not listen to this incredible story? Maybe, compared to his past, it could bring him some comfort?


It seemed unlikely, but she didn't know how long she would be trapped. Perhaps she could gain some analysis and answers she desired from him.


Zhan Chen's face turned even paler after listening. The silver-gray eyes seemed shrouded in darkness as he looked at her, evidently shocked by what she had revealed.


She had actually disclosed this secret to him.


And the experiences she narrated were undoubtedly unbearable suffering that no ordinary person could endure.


It was inhumane treatment, blood-curdling and beyond imagination!


A surge of hostility appeared in his eyes, a heavy aura of killing intent. Just the thought that some men had merely touched her fingers made him want to kill those individuals, let alone the ones who had experimented on her.


Such individuals were truly not worth living.


He reached out, and although his gaze was filled with a murderous aura, when he looked at her, his eyes were as gentle as moonlight pouring down. "Chenchen, let me see."


Jiang Chenchen saw his hand reaching towards her and hesitated. His hands looked slender and delicate. She asked, "See what?"


Zhan Chen's voice turned hoarse. "Your scar."


It dawned on Jiang Chenchen that he was referring to the scar on her chest.


"No need, it doesn't hurt anymore."


Nevertheless, Zhan Chen had already slightly risen, one hand supporting himself on the wheelchair, while the other gently lifted her collar.


The warmth of his fingertips touched her skin, but in an instant, Jiang Chenchen withdrew her hand.


Zhan Chen's silver-gray eyes constricted sharply. In one glance, he saw that thin scar, a deep wound.


Right at the position of her heart.


Because of the intense fluctuation in his emotions, he sat back into the wheelchair.


He wanted to speak, but a sensation of sweetness filled his throat.


It was caused by the rapid surge of blood and energy in his body.


Yet, he swallowed down that bloody taste, looking at Jiang Chenchen. "I will avenge you."


While speaking, the bloody taste induced severe coughing.


Seeing his emotional reaction, Jiang Chenchen approached and gently patted his back, helping him to ease the discomfort.


"They're already dead. No need for revenge," she said.


Zhan Chen, hearing her words, knew of course that those people had been burned to ashes. However, even if they had turned to ash, he still didn't want to forgive or let them off.


"Chenchen, regarding the research on you, don't tell others about it. If people with ulterior motives find out about your situation, it won't end well for you," Zhan Chen advised. He had witnessed the wickedness in people's hearts more than anyone else. Even he himself wasn't a good person.


Jiang Chenchen nodded and then asked, "Do you know why they wanted to study me?"







Chapter 190: Could It Be a Monster?


At that time, she had no awareness of these matters, and all the experimental data was consumed by the raging fire.


As for lying on the apparatus bed as an experimental subject, she was too young to understand the implications. By the time she instinctively tried to resist, she had already been injected with drugs, rendering her powerless.


She would watch as they cut tissues and skin from her body or extracted blood, carrying it away for analysis. They were merely performing procedures and recording data.


For six years, she spent most of her time in a daze, unaware of the passing days. However, one day, she caught a glimpse of a calendar hanging on the wall, with a date circled.


July 23rd.


Flames surged in her memory; a miracle had happened that day.


All those people had perished in the sea of fire.


At that time, she stood outside the laboratory door, missing a part of her memory. When the firefighters rescued her from here, she had no injuries on her body. She was crouching near a window at the other end of the building, gazing up at the pitch-black night.


She seemed mentally abnormal.


Later, she was taken to the hospital.


The cause of the laboratory fire was deemed an accident.


She was unaware of these details at that time, feeling completely devoid of a sense of survival. It seemed as though those who harmed her parents had died, and she didn't know what meaning her survival held.


When Zhan Chen discovered her identity, he had people investigate. Information about the laboratory fire seven years ago was not complicated. It was deemed an accident due to improper lab operations.


However, if it was an accident, how did the powerless Jiang Chenchen escape?


In the case file investigating the fire, there was a brief mention of survivor Jiang Chenchen, along with notes about mental issues, muteness, etc. Due to her young age and diagnosed mental problems, no details were extracted from her at that time.


As for the laboratory's surveillance, since they were conducting illegal human experiments, there couldn't possibly be any video recordings.


So, apart from Jiang Chenchen, no one knew the cause of that fire.


Even more bizarre was the disappearance of the laboratory's director a week before the fire.


Instinctively, he seemed like a crucial figure.


However, when the police searched for him, not only did they fail to find him, but there was also no trace of his existence, as if he had vanished into thin air.


In retrospect, Zhan Chen felt that there was something unusual, especially considering Jiang Chenchen being used as a test subject. What exactly were they studying about her? Her parents' murders were also suspicious.


Firstly, they could start investigating from her parents.


Jiang Chenchen could describe her father's family relations, namely her deceased uncle, Jiang Zhong, and his two sons. Her grandparents had died in a car accident when she was two or three years old, and she had no contact with other relatives.


On her mother's side, she had never met her maternal grandparents. In her childhood, her mother seemed to have mentioned that they lived far away and it wasn't convenient for them to visit.


Zhan Chen knew that familial bonds in this world weren't necessarily warm; he was a case in point. However, not everyone was like him.


"With such a major event, why have your grandparents never appeared? Even if they live far away, as long as they care and want to meet, they will find a way. Unless..."


"Unless they're dead, or your mother has severed ties with them, or they can't come." Jiang Chenchen continued the sentence, "I've considered all of these, but there's no trace to be found. I can't locate them, and even my home was sold by my uncle. Everything in the house is gone."


She still remembered her mother telling her to live on, to return to where she belonged.


Was it with her maternal grandparents?


"Let me handle this matter. I will do everything I can to help you find out. As long as it existed, there will be traces," he assured her.


He couldn't promise to protect her for a lifetime, but within the limited time, he would eliminate potential threats for her.


Anyone treated as a human experiment was either involved in illegal experiments, or there were other secrets about Jiang Chenchen.


And these secrets, nobody knew about them now.


Jiang Chenchen herself seemed quite lost.


She only knew that her body had tremendous energy, was minimally affected by external temperature and climate, had fast recovery abilities, strong memory, and explosive physical strength that would manifest stronger attacks when she felt threatened.


These seemed to make her a physically stronger person than the average, but she hadn't undergone much training since childhood. The most physical activity she engaged in was the simple combat training Zhan Chen taught her.


But the recovery ability couldn't be explained. Wounds and fractures healed quickly.


Apart from this, there was nothing particularly distinctive.


Zhan Chen, however, thought of another point. Her body had strong recovery abilities, and any injuries would heal rapidly, making them invisible no matter how deep the wounds were. However, the scar on her chest remained prominent.


How long had it been since that cut, and why couldn't it disappear with later recovery?


Apart from helping her discover the truth, he couldn't let go. He couldn't let her leave his side to face those unknown threats.


"Could I be a monster?" Jiang Chenchen looked at him, asking very seriously, "Like some potential mutant monster."


These were occasional thoughts that crossed her mind during her busy moments.


As her consciousness opened up and she saw more, her behaviors that were different from others might lead her to believe she was a monster.


When she couldn't control her consciousness, she could accidentally kill someone. The strength to easily twist the neck of an adult male was the manifestation of an underlying inner monster.


Although she tried hard to suppress it after learning about it later.


"A monster?" Zhan Chen maintained his position, leaning down to look at her, gently lifting her chin, and his silver-gray eyes met hers.


A faint smile appeared on his pale face. He always comforted her with extraordinary gentleness and patience, like the gentlest person under the moonlight.


"Chenchen, you wouldn't be a monster as good-looking as you are. Trust me. If there are reactions that are different from others due to certain physical changes, you must remember to tell me. If those reactions have no negative effects, it means your body has an inherent power to protect you. This is good, not bad."


He said this solemnly to reassure her, and Jiang Chenchen felt a bit comforted.


Like those sudden bursts of power, they wouldn't attack unless her body was threatened.


"If you're not tired, I invite you to watch a movie downstairs."


There was a home theater in the villa, but it was already very late.


Jiang Chenchen shook her head, "Today, I told you my secrets because I trust you enough. Originally, I genuinely considered you as my family, but you still choose to confine me here. Can you tell me, am I the same as I was in the laboratory?"