The wind continuously battered the windows, as if an evil spirit were shaking them from the outside. As the four major cities of the southeastern district, all of them had experienced typhoon invasions, so they were not surprised.
However, what displeased Shen Lan Ni even more were Ren Yuan Hao’s words. Yet, despite her usually fiery temper, she was quieter today than ever before.
Quiet to the point of being terrifying.
"Don't be too quick to get angry. After all, she's your own sister. You know how much courage it takes for you to be the only one to survive that disaster. But have you ever thought about the chances of survival in raging winds and waves? Especially for a seven-year-old girl?"
Ren Yuan Hao's analysis was clear and logical, the kind of thinking any ordinary person would have. Shen Lan Ni had already considered this.
She curled up on the soft sofa, as if sinking into mud and algae, hugging her knees. She wished she could hide her head in the darkness.
After a long while, she finally spoke in a near-whisper, "I know everything you're saying. This reason has accompanied me for nearly twenty years, and it's also the reason I haven't had the courage to search for my sister. But, do you know, when I saw her, it was like walking in a dark forest where everything was shrouded in darkness, but then a light, a ray of light, slanted in from afar. I just wanted to grasp that light, even if it might be a deadly flame..."
She paused for a moment, then looked up at the sparse light spots cast by the ceiling lamp, her voice deepening, "Only when facing her do all predetermined things become irrelevant. My emotions will unhesitatingly overcome my reason."
Ren Yuan Hao could empathize. Cheng Li had once given him a similar feeling. Therefore, as she spoke eloquently, Ren Yuan Hao's expression was not pleasant. He deliberately avoided the gaze of the three women and turned to the rattling window outside.
The sky was low, as if the pillars of heaven were about to collapse, and a storm was imminent. The air was as heavy as a discarded pool in a dry summer, with murky bubbles weakly rising from the diluted silt. In such weather, all the negative emotions lurking in people's hearts would erupt like a volcanic eruption, destructive and world-ending.
"People always have to face reality. I'm thinking, if Zhang Liang is telling the truth, at least we can confirm one thing." Ren Yuan Hao's gaze was gentle, his tone carrying a magical, mood-soothing power. "Since they could replicate Shen Yun Shu, it means that the Lionheart Building must have her living cells. In other words, even if the woman you saw last night wasn't your real sister, the probability of the real Shen Yun Shu surviving is still very high!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Lan Ni suddenly leaped up from the sofa!
Concern had made her frantic. She hadn't considered such simple biological common sense!
"That's right, without living cells, it's impossible to replicate a person!" Ye Lan, who had been silent, added, "At the same time, it means that the people at Lionheart Building were actually very close to you, Lan Ni sister, during that disaster. Otherwise, it would be impossible to save your sister in that situation."
Ren Yuan Hao agreed and continued to analyze, "Similarly, since the people from Lionheart Building are often seen in the sea, and might be out there today, the small boat outside the abandoned manor was likely left by them. Then, while we weren't paying attention, they took the two of them away from there!"
All the clues surfaced in an instant, and the most important prerequisite supporting these clues was that what Zhang Liang said was true.
Thinking of this, Shen Lan Ni looked up at Ye Lan, her eyes suddenly sharp as knives, "Since Zhang Liang could gather intelligence on Lionheart Building, I believe that Ye Lan sister can also gather more. I'm counting on you!"
Shen Lan Ni's earlier gloom vanished, and she regained her composure, as bright and ethereal as the shimmering mist on the horizon.
...
On this day, at night, dark clouds gathered, and the rain curtain connected to the sky.
Donglü City, as the only city among the four southeastern cities that developed along the lines of tourism and vacation, possessed a unique charm even with the tropical storm bearing down.
The wind shifted to the northwest, and the rain fell diagonally. Illuminated by the neon lights, it was extremely brilliant. As the tallest landmark building in the city, 'Cangyun Haige' resembled a monster piercing the clouds.
The "品" shaped building stood unmoving amidst the wind and rain. Its azure glass reflected the dazzling neon lights, appearing magnificent and beautiful. The corners were lined with glazed tiles, adorned with vermilion, jade, and green, showcasing a unique style. The top of Cangyun Haige gradually converged in a circular arc, currently emitting azure light spots.
It was said that the top of this building was a viewing platform specially designed by the boss for himself, and under normal circumstances, no one could ascend to it.
If it happened to be a sunny day with clear skies, or a moonlit night, the circular arc at the top would reflect dazzling colorful light spots, making one feel as if they were in a fantasy dream, so beautiful it felt unreal.
At this moment, in the Presidential Suite on the 24th floor of Cangyun Haige, facing south, Xiao Chong was hiding in the bathroom.
The shower had been running for a full half hour. Other than the sound of water droplets falling into the bathtub, there was no other sound.
Xiao Chong lay back in the bathtub, his face flushed red. The pool of water, under the refraction of light, shifted through magnificent colors.
But just then, Xiao Chong, who had kept his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. Countless tiny bloodshot veins surged towards his black pupils like living creatures!
His body temperature gradually increased, and for a moment, extremely tiny bubbles rose from the boiling water in the pool, with white steam rising wildly. The entire bathroom was soon shrouded in mist. He slowly sat up. The footprint on his chest was as red as if it were branded, turning purplish. He lowered his head and pressed it with his hand. Apart from some slight pain, it was much better than before.
At this moment, a knock sounded at the door.
"Senior Brother, Master is calling you to eat."
The voice sounded like Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng stood outside the door and called out a few times before hearing a low, tiger-like roar of an answer from inside.
"I'm not going."
"But..."
"I said I'm not going, can't you understand?"
Jiang Cheng pouted and left dejectedly.
Xiao Chong put on his bathrobe and walked to the mirror, pulling open his eyelids to examine them. The bloodshot veins gradually disappeared as his body temperature dropped. But just then, the knocking sounded again!
"I already said I'm not eating!"
Xiao Chong placed a towel on his head, looking quite annoyed. He thought the knocking would stop with his reprimand, but instead, it became even more vigorous.
He walked out of the bathroom with the towel on his head, only to feel the air conditioning in the room rapidly penetrate his body through his skin, causing him to shiver involuntarily!
It was precisely at this moment that the knocking once again stimulated his eardrums.
"Damn it, can't you understand, Jiang Cheng!"