CHAPTER 306: CHAPTER 306: TIME TO GROW UP

Zhuang Jie Ning stumbled toward Shen Jinci, her eyes red-rimmed. Witnessing Zhuang Yi’s disheveled state, her emotions collapsed, and she spoke with a trembling, quavering voice: "Shen Jinci! Have you gone mad! My father is the decision-maker of the Zhuang Family! How dare you kidnap him!"

Shen Jinci just smiled, lightly tapping his fingers, as the cigarette ash floated gently to the floor.

He did not immediately speak. Instead, in the frantic wait of Zhuang Jie Ning, he paused before beginning to speak in an unruffled voice, "Zhuang Jie Ning, the address you gave me was abandoned. How did you have the audacity?"

Zhuang Jie Ning snorted coldly, "I don’t believe you hadn’t found out. I was kidnapped by Li Sihe. He recognized me at the airport and had me abducted. Shen Jinci, I’m just like Bian Yue; I’m a victim too. Why are you doing this to me!"

"Whether you’re a victim or not, what does that have to do with me?" Shen Jinci lightly curved his lips, his eyes showing indifferent emotions. "I’m in a bad mood right now, and I can tell you very bluntly, as long as I haven’t found Bian Yue, I won’t let off anyone related to Li Sihe."

Zhuang Jie Ning’s teeth chattered, and she forced herself to remain calm, "Have you gone mad? This way, you’ll only make yourself a target for everyone! Shen Jinci, this is all I know about the address. Besides this, even if you kill me, I wouldn’t know anything else!"

"You’ve been sick for two days, and it seems your vigor has indeed recovered substantially. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you, after all, you’re the only person I know of who has been in contact with Li Sihe," Shen Jinci said blandly.

Zhuang Jie Ning let out a sigh of relief.

Indeed, just as Li Sihe had thought, Shen Jinci wouldn’t harm her.

"But, I can’t make any guarantees about your father’s life or death."

Zhuang Jie Ning stared at Shen Jinci in shock. "You’ve lost your mind... If something happens to my father, do you think you can escape? Shen Jinci, my father is not a nobody. Even if you are the Patriarch of the Shen Family, you can’t take my father’s life!"

"You think I don’t dare? Believe it or not, I can make your father leave this door and drop dead on the street," Shen Jinci’s voice was cold and detached. He looked at Zhuang Jie Ning’s ghostly pale face, slowly saying, "If I can’t find Bian Yue, I’m capable of anything."

With those words, he picked up the handgun beside him and aimed it at Zhuang Yi, "Or maybe now..."

"Don’t!" A chill ran through Zhuang Jie Ning’s heart, and her voice lost control as she stretched out her hand frantically, trying to stop Shen Jinci, "Shen Jinci! Don’t touch my father! For the sake of Bian Yue, do you think it’s worth it to gamble your own future?"

Zhuang Jie Ning kneeled in panic beside Shen Jinci, her hands clutching his arm, as tears fell, "If you fire the gun, my father’s life is over, and so is your future. Shen Jinci, have you been bewitched by Bian Yue? Can’t you see anyone else but her?"

"Three." The man’s voice was ice-cold.

Zhuang Jie Ning heard Zhuang Yi’s fearful cry, "Jie Ning! Save me!"

Zhuang Jie Ning’s tears surged, "You love Bian Yue, but I love you too! The first time I saw you after returning to the country, I fell in love with you. I haven’t loved anyone else but you, Shen Jinci. In reality, we are the perfect match. I’m not like Bian Yue. I’m willing to give everything for you!"

"Two." The sound of the trigger being cocked.

Zhuang Jie Ning’s eyes widened, her head shaking in panic, "You won’t... You can’t..."

Shen Jinci’s expression was cold; he did not even glance at Zhuang Jie Ning, his fingers slightly bent, "One..."

"Don’t! I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!" Zhuang Jie Ning interrupted Shen Jinci frantically, in terror.

The man calmly set down the pistol, looked at her, and smiled: "Miss Zhuang, have you recalled any new clues?"

"I have a way to contact Li Sihe left to me by him; I can help you reach out to him," Zhuang Jie Ning said nervously, "Please don’t hurt my dad!"

Shen Jinci’s gaze lifted toward Zhuang Yi in the corner.

Zhuang Yi had lost the disheveled fear from earlier and calmly freed himself from the shackles on his wrists.

As the sound of the falling chains echoed, Zhuang Jie Ning finally realized what was happening. She struggled to her feet from the ground and stammered, "Dad... how could you do this... how could you scheme with Shen Jinci to deceive me..."

"If I didn’t deceive you, would you tell Mr. Shen the truth!" Zhuang Yi walked sternly towards Zhuang Jie Ning, ignoring Shen Jinci’s presence, and slapped Zhuang Jie Ning in the face.

Zhuang Jie Ning, taken by surprise, nearly fell to the ground again.

Barely steadying herself, she looked at Zhuang Yi with tear-filled eyes and said with a face full of grievance, "Dad! It was for your sake that I... I got manipulated by Shen Jinci, how could you treat me this way!"

"If I hadn’t done this, it would have been our Zhuang Family that’s unlucky now!" Zhuang Yi took a deep breath, and looked seriously at Shen Jinci, saying in a heavy voice, "Mr. Shen, I’m sorry. It is my fault for the poor upbringing of my daughter, causing you trouble. Rest assured, the Zhuang Family will do our utmost to find Bian Yue for you."

As Zhuang Yi spoke, he was slightly bent over, with Shen Jinci sitting down, yet Zhuang Yi’s manner overwhelming him.

Zhuang Yi paused before continuing, "I will discipline my daughter well and ensure she spills everything she knows, rest assured, Mr. Shen!"

Shen Jinci stood up and casually threw the gun on the ground, and spoke with a cold tone, "I’ll give you 20 minutes, Mr. Zhuang, sort out your family affairs."

"Rest assured!"

Zhuang Jie Ning watched the scene with resentment, not breaking down in tears until Shen Jinci left.

"Dad! Why do you have to treat me like this! Isn’t it good that Bian Yue has disappeared? Why would you help Shen Jinci bring Bian Yue back!"

"Help?" Zhuang Yi looked at Zhuang Jie Ning with mockery, and couldn’t stop sneering, "You fool, how did I manage to raise you to be like this! Even now, you still believe I’m helping Shen Jinci! Can’t you see the situation clearly?"

Zhuang Jie Ning looked at Zhuang Yi in shock, "What do you mean?"

"Why do you think I am willing to play along with Shen Jinci, and how does he dare to allow us to talk in private here? You think it’s just because he threatened me a few times?"

"He’s threatening us, isn’t he... Dad, he wouldn’t dare to kill you..."

"He won’t kill me, but he could make the Zhuang Family disappear. All of Zhuang Group’s shares are now in Shen Jinci’s hands. If Shen Jinci wishes, we would become destitute and kicked out of Xiangjiang instantly."

Zhuang Yi looked at Zhuang Jie Ning with disappointment and slowly shook his head, "Jie Ning, I’ve spoiled you, how can you be so naive? Do you think Shen Jinci, holding a high position, will be kind-hearted and lenient than Li Sihe?"

Zhuang Jie Ning’s face turned pale; she clenched her fists tightly and after a while, she said hoarsely, "I understand what you mean, rest assured, I won’t drag the Zhuang Family down."

Zhuang Yi’s expression softened, and he said gently, "Alright, go out now, tell Shen Jinci all you know. Jie Ning, it’s time for you to be sensible."