Chapter 582: 289 Tender Sound (First Watch)

During dinner with Ming Chen and the others, Ming Jing came downstairs.

She wore a white ankle-length dress covered by a black trench coat, which accentuated her pale complexion, giving her an air of mystery akin to the night sky.

This was the first time Liu Muxue had seen Ming Jing wear anything other than white.

It had to be said; white made her look ethereal, while black made her look cool and collected.

A true beauty, even if clad in a sack, would still be stunning.

This time, Liu Muxue insisted on coming along with the sole aim of getting a glimpse of Ming Jing’s wardrobe.

“I am going to the Shens’, so I will be back a bit late,” Ming Jing announced.

No sooner had Ming Jing left than Liu Muxue eagerly asked, “Is it the same Shens that Shen Zhou belongs to?”

Ming Chen nodded obediently, “Yes, Uncle Shen and Shen Zhou have been really caring towards us. In the days when my elder sister was not around, Uncle Shen often invited us to his house to hang out, and the food prepared by his chef is just so delicious.”

Uncle Shen, the man Ming Chen refers to as “Shen Gege (older brother)”, became Shen Zhou, and Elder Theodore Shelby as “Shen Bobo (uncle)”…

Shen Zhou was in his 30s or 40s yet he allowed a teenage girl to call him “older brother”. How shameless!

Du Ze was waiting by the car and opened the door for Ming Jing when she approached.

As the car left the underground garage, the city lights enveloped them.

“Miss, during your absence, there haven’t been any major incidents at the company. The cooperation with Shenzhou Group and Ye Group is progressing smoothly. Thanks to your Wishful Thinking Foundation, which has helped many people, our company’s stock price remains stable, and public opinion is favorable. However, Mr. Zhu has been secretly associating closely with several high-ranking executives…” Du Ze revealed, pausing for a moment.

It was really disgusting what Zhu Wentao had done in the past. It seemed that his true colors couldn’t stay hidden for long.

Everyone was aware of his ulterior motives.

Ming Jing replied indifferently, “Let him be. Some people won’t shed tears until they see their coffin.”

Du Ze sighed, no wonder the young lady had moved out of the Zhu Family. What a bunch they were!

The Shens’ had kept their doors wide open and the house brightly lit when they heard Ming Jing was coming.

Elder Theodore Shelby, leaning on his walking stick, stood at the entrance of the living room waiting.

Ming Jing appeared from the darkness and offered support to the old man, “Why didn’t you wait inside? It’s windy out here.”

“I’m glad you’re back,” the old man patted her hand as they walked inside.

“Where’s Big Brother?” Ming Jing asked.

Mentioning Shen Zhou, Elder Theodore Shelby grumbled discontentedly, “Who knows? I haven’t seen him in days. He probably forgot he has an old father.”

Ming Jing smiled, “The company has been quite busy lately, and Big Brother, as the decision-maker, has a lot on his plate.”

“Don’t make excuses for him. Huahua, prepare dinner now,” the old man interrupted, “I want to see if you’ve lost weight. You better be eating well.”

“Thank you, Dad, but I’ve already eaten.”

Elder Shelby looked at her with concern, “Don’t leave tonight. Let a nutritionist cook you a proper meal.”

Ming Jing felt Elder Shelby’s pulse- strong and regular. It appeared he was taking his medication on time.

The old man chuckled, “I knew you’d check. I’ve been taking my medicine diligently, haven’t missed it once. I intend to live for a hundred and eighty years and see who outlives the other! I won’t believe it if I don’t see his wedding day!” Elder Shelby puffed out his chest defiantly, eyes wide and beard bristling.

Ming Jing laughed, “According to your current health, as long as you take your medication on time and exercise regularly, you will definitely live to see the day when Big Brother gets married and has children.”

Elder Shelby beamed with satisfaction.

“By the way, have you been bullied in Jingzhou?”

Ming Jing shook her head, “Nana takes good care of me.”

Elder Shelby smiled, “Although that girl has a hot temper, she’s a decent person. What do you think of her and your big brother being together?”

“Feelings should be mutual; don’t force it,” Ming Jing replied.

“Although that’s true, you know how stubborn your big brother can be. If we don’t push him, he may never marry, and I won’t get to have grandchildren.” The sadness on the old man’s face was truly heartbreaking.

“Big Brother… might already have someone he’s interested in…” Ming Jing hesitated.

Shen Zhou’s eyes seemed to carry the weight of the world.

Elder Shelby glanced around, then approached Ming Jing with a conspiratorial whisper, “Let me tell you a secret, but promise not to tell anyone else. Your big brother was infatuated with a female celebrity more than a decade ago, and he was so smitten with her that -” his eyes locked onto Ming Jing’s face and he stopped abruptly, “Huh… You look quite similar… It seems all beauties share some resemblance.”Ming Jing raised her eyebrows: “A female star?”

“You’ll see.” Elder Shelby slipped into the bedroom and came back out, sneaking a photo to Ming Jing to see, while always keeping an eye on the door, like a thief.

“It’s this female star, pretty, right? She seemed to have retired after getting married and having children. Your elder brother was completely devastated during that time… It was just too much.”

Elder Shelby didn’t want to mention it anymore.

The photo was somewhat yellowed, indicating that it had been kept for a long time.

It was a black and white photo with a beautiful woman, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall, her eyes bright and her teeth white. Her dreamy peach blossom eyes always seemed to carry a hint of laughter, like a nostalgic dream of April, vividly innocent and as radiant as a rose.

These eyes…

Ming Jing’s fingertips gently stroked the eyes in the photo.

In her mind, a pair of sad and tear-filled eyes flashed, heartbreakingly beautiful and tender.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, and Ming Jing stared at the smiling eyes, “What was her name?”

“You don’t know? It makes sense, you were only a few years old back then. Her name was… what was it… my memory… Ah, I remember now, Su Yinci, she was a huge star back then. What a pity that she wasn’t fated to be with your brother.”

At this moment, the steward’s deliberately raised voice came from the door, “Mr. Zhu is back.”

Elder Shelby quickly snatched the photo from Ming Jing’s hand, stuffed it into his pocket in a flurry, and told Ming Jing, “You must not let your brother know about this, otherwise we’ll never have any peace.”

Shen Zhou strode in, took off his coat, and handed it to a servant. He walked over with a smile, “What secret are you talking about that you don’t want me to know?”

Under the soft light, the young girl sat on the sofa, her slender figure excessively fragile, her head hung low as if lost in thought.

Upon hearing the voice, the girl lifted her gaze.

Shen Zhou’s footsteps paused abruptly, and he stared at the face before him, seemingly entranced.

Ming Jing stood up and spoke softly, “Big Brother.”

Shen Zhou was brought back to his senses by the voice, and he couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

He must have been confused; the two just looked alike, but their personalities were worlds apart.

Shen Zhou approached with a gentle smile and unconsciously softened his tone, “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming back? I would have picked you up personally.”

“I thought Big Brother would be very busy recently….”

Before Ming Jing could finish, Shen Zhou quickly interrupted, “In the Shens, your matters are the most important ones.”

Ming Jing smiled, and under the light, her black clothes made her face appear as white as snow, her features picturesque.

Although she was smiling, there was always a hint of icy coldness in her eyes.

“Come with me to the study; I have something to discuss with you.” Shen Zhou strode upstairs.

Ming Jing looked at Elder Shelby.

Elder Shelby hurriedly waved his hand, “Hurry up and go.”

As he watched Ming Jing’s retreating figure, Elder Shelby took the photo from his pocket, squinted at it under the light.

“The more I look, the more alike they seem. No wonder I felt that there was something familiar about Ming Jing when I first saw her…”

But there are many people who look alike, so it’s not that surprising.

No, wait… Elder Shelby suddenly remembered how Shen Zhou had looked entranced just now.

He knew his own son too well.

Although Ming Jing was indeed excellent, Shen Zhou’s composure was not like that of ordinary people. But time after time, he was uniquely special to Ming Jing. Could it be just because she resembled his first love?

This, this, this…

No, to firmly prevent incest from happening in the Shens, he had to put arranging a match for Shen Zhou on the agenda.

Elder Shelby took out his phone and called Mao Nana.

She was the daughter-in-law candidate he had set his heart on.

—-

“I’ve already made Gu Qingshan pay the price. In this lifetime, he’ll never be able to rise again.” Shen Zhou’s tone was cold. Only now, when he had shed his gentle facade, did he reveal the ruthless and scheming man who had built a business empire.

He still couldn’t forgive himself for the night when Ming Jing was almost hurt.

In his heart, Ming Jing was both sister and daughter.

Whether it was for Ming Jing herself or that unspeakable emotion, Ming Jing was the person he vowed to protect for the rest of his life.