Su Beichen was initially scared, but then he thought about how his life after prison would only be filled with hardship and no possibility of a comeback. This made him somewhat reckless.
Without money or power, even surviving was a struggle.
He would also be tormented by various factions, and the rest of his life would be spent on the run.
He would rather spend his entire life in prison or even die without hesitation than endure a life where he was trampled underfoot.
He no longer carried any burdens.
Shi Xinxin knew she had reached a dead end. Su Beichen was willing to live in prison forever with his secrets or die, and he refused to speak further.
Shi Xinxin had no choice but to give up on this path. Regardless of how things turned out, she had brought it all upon herself. She had to find another way.
Shi Xinxin got out of the prison and sat in her car. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, hesitant to drive away. She no longer knew which direction to go.
Shi Xinxin felt a sense of defeat. Her parents' doubts made her feel increasingly powerless.
The secret her parents held weighed heavily on her heart, preventing her from fully dedicating herself to her work.
She leaned her head on the steering wheel, lost in deep thought.
A WeChat notification sound broke the silence. Shi Xinxin wearily picked up her phone to check it.
When she saw the message, she sat up instantly.
Jin: Free? I can show you the box. There might be clues.
.: Yes!
.: Address
Jin: [Location Shared]
Shi Xinxin's despondency immediately vanished. She quickly drove to the location Sheng Chenjin had sent her.
Shi Xinxin stopped the car, a dark line across her forehead. Looking at the Shengshi Group building before her, she felt a sense of helplessness.
She opened her phone.
.: What do you mean...
Jin: You're here? I'll come down to get you.
Shi Xinxin rubbed her temples. Forget it.
She got out of the car and strode into Shengshi Group.
As she entered the company lobby of Shengshi Group and was about to ask the receptionist for directions, the elevator doors opened.
Sheng Chenjin emerged from it with an imposing presence.
Even though he was just walking, Shi Xinxin saw him as majestic.
Shi Xinxin crossed her arms and looked at him with an amused expression.
"You're here so quickly."
Sheng Chenjin stood before her. Shi Xinxin nodded and followed him into the president's private elevator.
The elevator was transparent. With every floor they passed, a commotion arose.
The president was standing with an exceptionally beautiful woman!
Unlike the other beautiful women who often pestered the president, this woman possessed a gentle yet aloof aura. Her expression was neutral, and she seemed to be there for business.
This was clearly not just a pretty face!
"So beautiful! Could this be the one who made the president's heart bloom? A celestial maiden!"
A female employee said dreamily.
"Of course, that's my goddess, Shi Xinxin, the executive president of CL Jewelry Company who was on the trending search not long ago." a xxs said mysteriously, her face filled with pride and admiration.
"Oh, then I know. Our Shengshi has a collaboration with CL."
"So they're discussing work?"
What work are they discussing? They are so well-matched; they should be discussing matters between a man and a woman!
After all, who had ever seen a president personally receive a business partner at their office for a meeting?
"This is clearly the president making the first move. The Shi family has both wealth and power, and Miss Shi is also capable. If it were me, I'd be willing to be her suitor too," a male employee commented objectively.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The atmosphere in the office area, outwardly calm, was in reality churning like stormy seas. The small group chats on their computers were dinging non-stop.
...
"Your company employees are all gossiping."
In Sheng Chenjin's office, Shi Xinxin crossed her arms and glanced at Sheng Chenjin, pointing downstairs with her chin.
"No way. They'll gossip for a while at most."
Sheng Chenjin was dismissive, clearly not considering the formidable capabilities of his company's employees.
"Stop the nonsense. Let me see the box."
Sheng Chenjin retrieved a relatively light box from a safe.
It was made of titanium alloy, but when shaken, it felt like it was filled with intricate mechanisms. No wonder Sheng Chenjin dared not act carelessly.
"The key, I suspect, won't be found anytime soon."
Shi Xinxin mused, tapping her chin.
She desperately tried to recall any suspicious details or small objects related to Sheng Chenjin's interactions with the Su family.
Something flashed through her mind, but it vanished before she could grasp it.
A look of regret crossed her face.
"What's wrong?"
Sheng Chenjin asked with some concern. This matter couldn't be rushed.
"No, I feel like I have a clue, but I can't quite figure it out. Let me think a bit more."
Despite her best efforts, Shi Xinxin couldn't quite grasp the idea.
Her gaze fell on Sheng Chenjin's face. He was also staring at her. Perhaps because Shi Xinxin's gaze was too direct, Sheng Chenjin felt a little unnerved.
"By the way, why were you interested in Su Li, that money-grubbing woman?"
Shi Xinxin suddenly blurted out this question. Judging by her previously serious expression, one would have thought the unresolved issue was something else entirely.
The matter of the box's key was proving impossible to recall, so she decided to set it aside for now.
Sheng Chenjin was taken aback that Shi Xinxin, after a moment of thought, would ask such a question.
"I was never interested in her. It's just that you tore off the cufflinks my mother left me, and they happened to appear in her possession. It was a misunderstanding," Sheng Chenjin said, feeling a bit helpless. He also blamed himself for not being more observant back then.
"The injury to my eye occurred because I was continuously investigating my parents' affairs and was targeted by that hidden force. During the struggle to escape, I was severely injured."
Upon hearing the word "cufflinks," Shi Xinxin felt something was amiss. Seeing Sheng Chenjin about to continue, she quickly raised her hand to interrupt.
"Wait, you said cufflinks?"
"Yes, the only thing my mother left me before she passed away." Sheng Chenjin's tone became somewhat somber when he spoke of the cufflinks.
Shi Xinxin found it peculiar.
"Cufflinks, could they truly have been left as a keepsake for you? How old were you then? How could she have left you cufflinks that you would only use when you grew up, something you wouldn't need at the time?"
Shi Xinxin looked at Sheng Chenjin.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Chenjin also felt that something was not quite right. For years, he had simply believed they were a keepsake from his mother.
"You mean... the cufflinks might have another purpose?"
As he spoke, he took out the cufflinks he always wore.
After fiddling with them for a while, he felt that something was indeed off, but he couldn't discern what it was.
Shi Xinxin thought about how important these cufflinks were to him and wondered if he would be angry if she damaged them.
"If you don't mind, could I take a look?"
Sheng Chenjin handed them to her without hesitation.
"Here, feel free to play with them."
"Alright."
Shi Xinxin examined them carefully. Indeed, apart from being slightly larger and more exquisite than ordinary cufflinks, they didn't appear to be anything special.
She tried tapping them with her fingernail. Unconsciously, she found a chair and sat down, placing them on the table and carefully observing the seams.
She began to attempt to pry them open, bit by bit.
Suddenly, with a "snap," the cufflinks sprang open.