HBWMA -Chapter 317 Acting at the Right Moment

The last sliver of light slipping through the crack in the door was perfectly sealed off, leaving the room in a subtle, almost intriguing atmosphere.

Jiang Huashan stared at Shen Guiling, observing him closely. She had originally expected that his sudden appearance would definitely startle him, but unexpectedly, he showed no reaction at all.

Shen Guiling stood there for a moment. Only when the ginger tea in his hands had completely settled did he slowly walk toward her.

They stood about a step apart. From that distance, he could clearly see himself reflected in her eyes, along with her eyelashes damp from the cold mist.

Shen Guiling handed her the ginger tea. “Warm yourself up first.”

Jiang Huashan pushed it away. “I’m not cold.”

After getting out of the car, she had run all the way to his office. Her body was still burning slightly from the exertion, though she was trying not to show it.

Shen Guiling quietly retracted his fingers and adjusted his grip on the cup handle. When Jiang Huashan pushed the cup away, her palm accidentally brushed against his fingertips.

The surface of the ginger tea rippled again in gentle circles.

“……”

Shen Guiling lowered his gaze and took a silent sip.

Jiang Huashan shifted her posture and tapped the desk seriously. “Didn’t you say it wasn’t convenient? Now that I’m here, give me the information.”

Shen Guiling set down the cup. “The information isn’t here.”

Jiang Huashan stood up and frowned at him. “Shen Guiling, you’re not messing with me, are you?”

Shen Guiling glanced around the room. “This is a government building. It’s my temporary office. Do you think I would keep something that important here?”

That actually made some sense. Jiang Huashan sat back down again. “Then where is it?”

Shen Guiling replied, “Naturally, at the place I’m currently staying.” He looked at his watch seriously. “I still have a meeting this afternoon and can’t leave. If you’re in a hurry, I can have Mo Ran take you there first, and I’ll give it to you after I’m done.”

“Your place?” Jiang Huashan immediately straightened, her gaze turning dark.

Shen Guiling raised a brow. “What kind of look is that? My father’s people are still watching me. If I don’t go home, how am I supposed to get it for you? Or… you can wait in the car, and I’ll have Lei Xing bring it out to you?”

Jiang Huashan cleared her throat and turned her face away, thinking carefully.

The “heart-movement indicator” had been stuck at 99% for a while now. Maybe it was time to act opportunistically and capture that remaining 1%?

The current “script” was getting more and more abnormal. If she didn’t get some rewards, she might not be able to handle future challenges. The reward from “Sui’er” was “unparalleled luck”, and as a male lead, Shen Guiling’s reward definitely wouldn’t be worse.

Jiang Huashan thought deeply, her fingers tapping the table in a steady rhythm.

Shen Guiling was still young now—easy to deceive. Once he grew up, he would probably be full of schemes, and that remaining 1% would be even harder to obtain.

Besides, it wasn’t entirely her fault. Who told him to start off by giving her 99% “extreme affection”? Anyone would be confused by that. Who could resist taking advantage of it?

Shen Guiling glanced at her reddened fingertips and lowered his head to drink tea.

After a moment, Jiang Huashan clenched her fist and slapped the table. “I’ve decided. I’m staying at your place tonight.”

“Cough—cough cough cough!”

Shen Guiling was caught off guard; the ginger tea went down the wrong way, and he coughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes.

That easily thrown off balance?

Jiang Huashan suppressed the curve of her lips and said seriously, “I thought about it. It’s not appropriate for me to take these documents back to Shen Garden anyway. I might as well review them here.”

Shen Guiling didn’t respond immediately. After catching his breath, he silently took a tissue and wiped his mouth.

What kind of reaction was that? Could it be that the 99% affection was fake?

Or had things progressed too quickly and startled him?

Shen Guiling crumpled the tissue into a ball in his hand and nodded. “Fine. But there’s a lot of material. You probably won’t finish processing it in one night. I’ll have Assistant Mo prepare a separate room for you so you can use it comfortably.”

Since she could both take advantage of the situation and explore new developments, there didn’t seem to be any reason to refuse.

Jiang Huashan pursed her lips and gave Shen Guiling a sweet smile. “Thanks, Brother A-Ling~”

Shen Guiling raised a brow.

【Ding——】

【Warning: Heartbeat arc of the treasure storyline “Rescuing the Little Miserable One” has backfired. Completion rate decreased by 1%.】

What the hell is wrong with this system?!

The smile on Jiang Huashan’s face instantly froze, the corner of her mouth twitching as she stared at Shen Guiling.

“I’ll go explain things to Assistant Mo,” Shen Guiling said, turning away. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

【Ding——】

【Congratulations, the hidden plot arc Heart-fluttering Chapter: “Rescuing the Poor Little One” has been triggered. Completion progress: 99%】

Jiang Huashan: “……”

Shen Residence, tea room.

News that Shen Lanxi had thrown the Fu family out of the Shen Residence spread quickly through the upper circles of Whale Harbor. Even Shen Qian called back from afar to ask for clarification. To deal with the questioning from several uncles and elders, Shen Lanxi barely drank any water the entire day.

Seeing that his expression wasn’t good, Shen Rang assumed he was unhappy about the elders’ criticism and tried to comfort him with a smile.

“They don’t know your abilities. It’s only natural for them to worry. What, are you already upset over this?”

Shen Lanxi shook his head. “Fifth Uncle, you’ve misunderstood. It has nothing to do with the uncles.”

“Not them? Then what is it?”

Shen Lanxi personally poured him tea, his expression calm. “Let’s not talk about this. How is things on the Su family’s side?”

“The Su family?” Shen Rang’s eyes lit up immediately. He described it vividly, “This time the Su family really showed backbone. First, the State Council issued a suspension of all duties for Fu Jiasheng as chief director. Then the Procuratorate issued three search warrants in a row, turning Western Hill Church, the slum gambling dens, and St. Anne Hospital upside down.”

“What matters most isn’t even that. The key point is that someone anonymously reported that the Fu family was involved in the treason case of Yao Jun three years ago. Whale Harbor authorities have already accepted the case.”

Back then, how glorious the Yao family had been. Yet because of the Golden Mountain land deal, they were toppled overnight from the top of the pyramid. A charge of treason—anyone touched by it was doomed.

Shen Rang clapped his hands in satisfaction, full of curiosity. “You really predicted that the Su family would go all in from the start?”

The more prosperous the family, the more cautious they were about making enemies. When two tigers fight, one must be injured—and if things went badly, they might even be devoured by lurking predators on the sidelines. That was precisely why major clans maintained balance and rarely dared to break it.

But the Su family’s move had clearly shattered that balance, with profound implications.

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “The head of a family is still human. As long as the Su family is still a tiger, there is no reason not to retaliate after being struck in the face.”

Shen Rang nodded, increasingly convinced that Shen Lanxi had the bearing of a future heir of the Shen family.

Just then, as the tea had nearly finished, Gao Zhi cautiously entered the room.

“Young Master.”

Shen Lanxi glanced at him.

Gao Zhi looked up at the ceiling, speaking quickly, “There’s a call from South Bay. Miss Jiang has arrived safely. You don’t need to worry, Young Master.”

Shen Rang, completely unaware of the tension, blinked. “What? Huashan went to South Bay to find A-Ling?”

Before Gao Zhi could answer, Shen Rang continued on his own, “She must have been shocked by the Su family incident. Since she’s close with A-Ling, she probably went to talk things out.”

After the Bai Zheng incident, everyone in the Shen family believed Jiang Huashan and Shen Guiling were closely connected—two people of sensitive identities, empathizing with each other.

Gao Zhi rolled his eyes internally so hard it almost hurt. If it weren’t for Shen Rang’s status, he would’ve already lashed out.

Do you even know what’s going on right now? And you’re just casually guessing?

Shen Lanxi’s expression remained unreadable. “Anything else?”

Gao Zhi lowered his head, staring at his shoes, speaking rapidly, “She also said she’ll stay there for a few days.”

Shen Lanxi paused slightly. The light in his eyes darkened.

Shen Rang still didn’t notice anything strange and casually reached for his cup. “Oh, let her play for a few days then. The Su and Fu families’ matters aren’t settled yet anyway—she shouldn’t go back to school for now. South Bay is Shen territory, and with A-Ling there protecting her, nothing will happen.”

Shen Lanxi glanced at Shen Rang, then lifted the teapot and poured tea until the water reached the rim of the cup. Only then did he slowly stand up.

“Fifth Uncle, please excuse me.”

“Hey!? I wasn’t done talking—where are you going?” Shen Rang looked confusedly at Gao Zhi. “What’s going on?”

What’s going on? He’s been stabbed right in the spine, that’s what’s going on. You fat old man, if you don’t know how to talk, just don’t.

Gao Zhi bowed slightly. “Farewell, Fifth Master. Please enjoy yourself.”

Tch. Time to go coax the little disaster of a young master again. Emotional injuries every day, never-ending. So annoying.