Chapter 140: Chapter 140

"Were you looking for me?"

Zhang Jian confirmed that he hadn’t misheard—it was indeed An’an’s voice just now.

While everyone else was absorbed in the celestial phenomenon, Zhang Jian left the crowd and headed toward the group of students.

Just then, someone patted his shoulder. "Manager Zhang, are you looking for your niece?"

Zhang Jian turned around. Although it was pitch dark all around, it didn’t stop him from recognizing the person in front of him.

"Come with me. I’ll take you to find your niece."

Zhang Jian found it a bit odd. How would he know where An’an was?

Nevertheless, Zhang Jian instinctively followed him, descending the observatory platform from the other side.

A small forest lay not far from the observatory, pitch black and eerie.

The deeper Zhang Jian walked, the more unsettled he felt. He suddenly stopped, turning around to leave.

Behind him, Song Qi cackled coldly. "If you dare take one more step out of here, your niece is as good as dead."

Zhang Jian spun around abruptly, trembling all over as he demanded, "What have you done to An’an?"

Song Qi sneered, "Oh, Zhang Jian, I’ve tolerated you long enough. You’re just a nobody without even a formal position. How dare you take charge of such an important project and even manage to gain President Zhao’s favor? I’ve had it up to here."

Zhang Jian stepped forward quickly. "What exactly have you done to An’an? Song Qi, let me tell you something—if you so much as lay a finger on her, I’ll fight you to the death."

Usually mild-mannered, Zhang Jian’s sudden outburst of determination startled Song Qi.

But he quickly regained his composure and laughed, not taking Zhang Jian seriously at all.

"Your precious niece might be talented, but with an uncle like you dragging her down, she’s better off accepting her bad luck."

Zhang Jian was starting to panic. "Manager Song, I beg you, please don’t harm An’an. I’ll do anything you ask, just don’t hurt her."

He could have turned and left to look for An’an or even called the police.

But it wasn’t a gamble he could afford to lose.

"Later, you’ll go find President Zhao immediately. Use whatever means necessary to persuade him to approve Yongrui Fund’s involvement and nominate me as the project lead. You must succeed—failure isn’t an option. Otherwise, your niece will never see the light of day again."

Song Qi snarled the threat.

Of course, he didn’t really dare harm Shen You’an, but he knew Zhang Jian’s character well, knew he was easy to manipulate.

So, President Zhao likes you, huh? It would be such a waste not to exploit all your hard work in buttering him up.

Song Qi had already done his research—Zhang Jian had no real backing. The bank president had only propped him up to suppress himself, Song Qi.

As long as he secured the project lead position, the bank president wouldn’t be able to say much.

As for Zhang Jian, ha! Song Qi had never considered him a threat.

That little niece of his was quite valued by Lanya Group, but let’s be real: there are plenty of star talents out there. Why would Lanya risk offending Yongrui Fund for an unconnected student?

Even an idiot could see the obvious choice.

Song Qi had chosen this spot deliberately because there were no surveillance cameras here. Tonight, everyone present would serve as his witnesses. Zhang Jian wouldn’t have any evidence to accuse him.

The plan was flawless.

Zhang Jian froze for a moment, then smiled bitterly. "So this is what you’re after. Fine. I’ll agree to your demands, as long as you don’t harm An’an."

"Zhang Jian, you’re smart to know your place. I expect you to deliver, or don’t blame me for being ruthless."

"Clap, clap, clap." In the darkness, a string of sharp applause echoed.

Song Qi’s nerves tightened as he instinctively looked up.

In the distant shadow of the forest’s edge, there seemed to be a few figures standing.

Song Qi frowned. How had he not noticed anyone following them?

"What a performance," a man’s mocking voice broke the tension.

Hearing this voice, Song Qi’s mind went blank with a "boom," his knees nearly buckling beneath him.

"Pres... President Zhao? Why are you here?"

"If I weren’t, would I have missed this brilliant show? Manager Song, you’re something else. I truly underestimated you."

"President Zhao, it’s not what you think—please, let me explain..."

Song Qi rushed forward but was intercepted by Zhao Haotian’s bodyguards. They twisted his arms back and forced him to kneel on the ground.

Zhang Jian finally came to his senses, wiping sweat off his forehead as he stepped forward. "President Zhao..."

"Manager Zhang, it’s your call. How would you like to handle this?"

Zhao Haotian’s meaning was clear: he was leaving everything up to Zhang Jian.

Song Qi’s eyes widened in utter disbelief. He struggled desperately and pleaded with Zhang Jian, "Zhang Jian, say something! Tell President Zhao this is all a misunderstanding—I was kidding!"

Zhang Jian pressed his lips together. "President Zhao, indeed, this is a..."

Zhao Haotian signed the contract and left Chunzhou, while Song Qi had Yongrui Fund backing him. If he became vindictive and targeted An’an, it would be a disaster. Zhang Jian didn’t care about himself, but he couldn’t let An’an face more harm.

Before "misunderstanding" could escape his lips, an icy voice interrupted.

"Threatening to imprison me as leverage against my uncle to achieve your unspeakable goals—how dare you try to dismiss it all as a misunderstanding? Absolutely not."

Zhao Haotian froze. Wasn’t that the same girl who had explained the "fireflies guarding the moon" phenomenon earlier?

Instinctively, Zhao Haotian turned his head. Under the eerie red moonlight, a slim figure gradually came into view.

For some reason, this figure seemed strangely familiar to Zhao Haotian.

"So, you’re Manager Zhang’s niece," Zhao Haotian remarked.

"President Zhao, your company has always been fair with punishments and rewards. Surely, you’ll make a just decision regarding such malicious competition?"

Zhao Haotian raised his eyebrows. The young girl was bathed in blood-red moonlight, yet her voice was cold and serene—a striking contradiction that made her all the more captivating.

"Then we’ll await your decision."

Shen You’an walked up to Zhang Jian and took his hand. "Uncle, let’s go home."

Zhao Haotian watched their backs as they gradually disappeared, a faint smile curving his lips.

"She gives me such an oddly familiar feeling..."

Earlier, when he was captivated by the celestial event, a call had come through.

He could ignore anyone’s call, but not that person’s.

It was that person who instructed him to come here and witness this spectacle.

Zhao Haotian glanced around. In the boundless darkness, it felt as if unseen eyes were always watching him.

Cold sweat trickled down Zhao Haotian’s back, leaving him with an unnerving sense of dread.

The mysterious girl in black at Zirui Pavilion in Chunzhou and the dramatic events just now all seemed intricately linked by the same girl—and by the ever-present eyes of Amos.

What exactly was her relationship with Amos?

Song Qi tried to slip away, but the bodyguard barked, "Stay put."

Zhao Haotian shot Song Qi a disdainful glance and furrowed his brows. "Reckless fool, you don’t even know who you’ve offended. Take him away."

Song Qi was filled with both regret and unanswered questions.

Just whose favor had Zhang Jian managed to secure?