Redemption - Chapter 8 - The Mansion

At the school gate, a stretch white Lincoln limousine had been waiting for a long time. A uniformed driver stood expressionlessly by the car door. His face offered no useful clues-it displayed no anger, no joy, and it couldn’t even be described as indifferent. It was simply devoid of any expression. Faced with such a blank-faced individual, the curious students, who initially wondered why such an ostentatious car was parked at their school, could only move past cautiously, their curiosity stifled. But just as they had resigned themselves to silence, their mouths dropped open in astonishment once again.

The school’s renowned beauty, Jia Ying, and the equally popular Zong Rui not only didn’t avoid the seemingly ominous limousine, but they also headed straight for the uniformed, expressionless driver. The driver gave them a slight nod and said, “I’ve been waiting for you, Miss. However, my master’s instructions are that I am to take only you. The gentleman here was not invited.” With that, his sharp eyes, concealed under the visor of his cap, shot a glance at Zong Rui, who stood by silently, making no comment.

Jia Ying turned to look at Zong Rui, bit her lip, and said, “He’s my good friend. I’m going with him. Because frankly, I have no idea what kind of person your so-called master is. If you’re unwilling to let him ride with me, then fine-ask your master to come meet me in person.”

For the first time, the expressionless driver’s face revealed a flicker of struggle. Jia Ying and Zong Rui stared at him tensely, hoping to glean some information. Finally, after five seconds, the driver let out a long sigh and silently bent at the waist, offering them both a deep bow. He had been defeated by the stubborn young woman.

Only then did Jia Ying and Zong Rui breathe a sigh of relief. Under the stunned gazes of their classmates, they quickly hopped into the car. The vehicle started without the slightest hesitation, speeding off and leaving behind a crowd of students shouting “Wow! Wow!” and girls whose eyes sparkled with excitement.

The car swiftly transitioned from the winding mountain roads to the coastal highway. Here, the vast ocean was but a step away from them. The setting sun transformed the rippling waves into a sea of glittering gold, stretching as far as the eye could see, like an enormous tablecloth embroidered with golden threads. A few seagulls glided gracefully over the water, leaving behind rippling trails. Gentle tides softly lapped at the foundations of the coastal road, sending up sprays of seafoam.

Zong Rui loved this place because he loved the ocean. Even under the current circumstances, he couldn’t help but stare at the sea, lost in thought. But then, his brow furrowed, as if he had noticed something unusual.

The previously calm and tranquil sea suddenly turned turbulent, with roaring waves crashing onto the beach. A massive fleet had appeared on the horizon, making its way across the waters. The fleet was composed entirely of ten-thousand-ton cargo ships-ten of them, or perhaps more. These colossal vessels tore through the waves at full throttle, heading out toward open waters. Judging by their direction, these ships had just departed from Nanhai Port, and each of them bore the crimson triangular insignia of the Breissel Company, marked with a black cross.

So, it really was true that Breissel Pharmaceutical Company had relocated from Nanhai City, Zong Rui thought to himself. Could this be connected to the series of bizarre events that had been occurring since early that morning? If so, how could they have orchestrated all of this… Were they some sort of land deities, whose departure from an area would summon calamities? Zong Rui didn’t believe in such superstitions. However, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that the Breissel Company-always shrouded in an air of mystery-was hiding secrets of a truly monumental scale.

As he pondered this, the limousine sped past the city limits and began heading toward the outskirts. Snapping out of his thoughts, Zong Rui glanced at the buildings outside the window, which were growing sparse and low, and frowned. He turned to the driver seated in the front and asked, “Where are we going, exactly?” The driver, still expressionless, replied, “Please be patient. We will arrive shortly.”

The car traveled further along a tree-lined avenue before coming to a stop in front of a solitary villa standing amidst the wilderness. The driver quickly jumped out, intending to open the door for Jia Ying, but his effort went unreciprocated-Jia Ying had already opened the door herself and stepped out decisively. The driver paused, gave a silent bow, and then climbed back into the car, driving it out of sight, disappearing behind the villa.

Zong Rui turned his attention to the building before him, inspecting it carefully. It was a lavish, two-story structure, crafted from the finest timber and exuding an air of luxury. The exterior featured elements of Renaissance design-carvings, columns, and every detail one might expect of such ornate architecture.

Jia Ying moved to the door, extending her hand to knock. However, before she made contact, the door swung open by itself, revealing the same mysterious boy they had encountered earlier that morning. The boy, donned in white, smiled upon seeing her and said, “Miss Jia Ying, I knew you would come. Please, come in. I’ve been expecting you.”

The moment Zong Rui saw the boy, he wasted no time. He strode up to him, positioning himself between the boy and Jia Ying. With a cold tone, he said, “There’s no need for your hospitality. We’re just ordinary people, and we’re already running late. If you have something to say, please keep it brief and get straight to the point.”

The boy in white shrugged nonchalantly and, with a hint of mockery in his tone, responded, “Why so worked up, sir? It doesn’t seem like I have anything to discuss with you. What I have to say concerns this young lady alone-it’s a highly private matter, I assure you, one that has absolutely nothing to do with you. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll have someone escort you back.”

Jia Ying stepped forward and declared firmly, “I have no secrets from Zong Rui. Whatever you have to say can be said in front of him, so there’s no need to keep it confidential.”

The boy in white smirked and remarked flippantly, “What a close relationship you two have… but unfortunately, that’s irrelevant to me, Miss. If you want to hear what I have to say, you’ll have to come alone. As for this gentleman, if he lingers near my home, it will make me quite uncomfortable. Therefore…” He snapped his fingers, and as if summoned by telepathy, the Lincoln limousine reappeared from behind the house. “So, either send this gentleman on his way, or the two of you can leave together. But… I guarantee, if you do leave, you’ll regret it.”