noveldepot Chapter 60 A genuine expression of emotion, yet not a genuine expression of emotion
Chapter 60 A genuine expression of emotion, yet not a genuine expression of emotion
This time, Shen Xidi's killing intent was genuine, because the threads of danger perception suddenly flashed through Lin Zheng's mind again.
Although not overtly so, it was enough to prove that Shen hope did indeed harbor murderous intent regarding Jiang Huaimeng.
Looking at Shen hope's adorable, intense gaze, Lin Zheng withdrew his hand from her head: "This is the second time you've held a dagger to my neck today, isn't it? If our little Shen Xi doesn't come here a few times a day, she really can't sleep at night."
Shen hope's face was serious and gloomy, filled with immense vigilance: "I'm serious this time! Don't joke with me. When did you investigate us?! Tell me everything you know!"
Her dagger drew even closer to Lin Zheng's neck; it seemed that just one more millimeter and the sharp blade would sever his neck, causing his blood to gush out and his life to end.
However, Lin Zheng remained calm in the face of a life-or-death crisis, and instead picked up the seafood porridge and drank the last drop.
"I'm not stupid either. Last time, when those assassins came to settle accounts with us, did you think I wouldn't have any suspicions when Xiao Shenxi killed so skillfully? You even just told me that you've killed a lot of people in the past. You should know that you've been following President Jiang since you were a child."
Shen hope is not stupid either:
"So what? This only proves I'm a murderer. What does it have to do with President Jiang?! Even if I kill countless people in front of you, it won't expose President Jiang, and no normal person would suspect it was ordered by President Jiang!"
"Normal people wouldn't make that connection, but do you think I'm normal?"
This left Shen hope speechless.
Lin Zheng looked at Shen hope and analyzed:
"Others may not know, but I know it all too well. Xiao Shenxi's feelings for President Jiang are very pure, a kind of purity that others can never imagine. Your personality dictates that after she took you in back then, you will never do anything to put President Jiang in danger."
Lin Zheng asked in return:
"Murder? You just said that you killed someone without President Jiang's knowledge just to protect him? Wouldn't that be the easiest way to attract enemies to come and settle scores with President Jiang? Would you do something so stupid? You wouldn't, you're not that thoughtless, unless someone ordered you to do it."
Shen hope sensed something was wrong, and her gaze grew increasingly strange:
"You mean you only started suspecting and investigating me these past couple of days? That can't be right! I've been by your side the whole time these past few days, how could I have had the chance to investigate me?! Explain yourself, how exactly did you investigate me and President Jiang?!"
No investigation is needed.
"What?"
Seeing Shen hope's furrowed brow, Lin Zheng turned around, startling Shen hope who moved the dagger away from his neck, fearing she might accidentally stab him. He warned her:
"Young Master Lin, don't move! I'm warning you, you'd better tell me everything truthfully, or I really will kill you this time!"
"I said no investigation is needed. From that group of strange assassins to your skillful killing methods, and then to how our organization's leader suddenly started issuing clearance orders while I was unconscious, that's enough to make one think of a series of connections. I can even guess Jiang Huaimeng's motive for issuing the clearance order: to protect your and my safety, right?"
Lin Zheng stared intently into Shen hope's beautiful, almond-shaped eyes: "Plus, you just said you hoped I wouldn't do anything stupid, mentioning that you killed many people to protect President Jiang. Isn't that revealing my identity? Do you think I need to investigate anything further?"
Lin Zheng saw Shen hope was stunned for a moment, and his expression also became emotional:
"To be honest, before the assassin incident, I never imagined that you and President Jiang would be doing criminal things in secret, that you would kill people, and that you would even be the mastermind behind a huge criminal gang like Jiangcheng. These things are indeed surprising, but after I guessed the truth of these things, I suddenly felt that it didn't matter."
Lin Zheng said, word by word, "I don't care about those things at all. There's only one thing I care about: protecting you and Mengmeng, Shen hope. You two are really important to me! I absolutely cannot let anything happen to you!"
Shen hope stared at Lin Zheng's sincere and intense expression, and withdrew the dagger in her hand a few centimeters.
Lin Zheng frowned: "That's why, after clarifying my thoughts, I said those things to you on the way to rescue Xia Yi. I said I wanted to disobey orders and usurp the throne! I wanted to stop Mengmeng from doing something as risky as clearing the area, and I wanted to represent these bad guys in place of Mengmeng."
That way, even if the organization fails and something goes wrong in the future, at least the two of you won't be in trouble. The scapegoat will just be me! Have I explained myself clearly enough? Enough for you to know what I'm thinking right now, right?
To be honest, even Lin Zheng himself almost believed what he said.
After all, he had just put all his available skill points into the Lie trait.
The "Breaking the Ten" trait amplifies the liar's inner sincerity, making it easier for them to express their true feelings.
Of course, amplification is not creation; it still requires Lin Zheng to have some genuine feelings in it to amplify such emotions.
This genuine affection stems from Lin Zheng's true desire to prevent anything from happening to the two sisters.
His purpose in coming into this world was to change the fate of the villainous faction.
Shen hope was genuinely shocked upon hearing this. Her eyes flickered, and that strange feeling resurfaced. The dagger had completely withdrawn from her hand. "You mean... you did all this for President Jiang..."
"It's for you and President Jiang, not just for President Jiang. Haven't I said it many times? Xiao Shenxi is also one of the most important people in my heart."
Shen hope's pupils shimmered, but she couldn't help but retort with uncontrollable arrogance, "Who would believe you!"
"You know in your heart whether what I said is true or not." He emphasized, but Shen hope was speechless.
She lowered her head, deep in thought, then suddenly looked up and advised, "That won't do either. Young Master Lin can't be a scapegoat!"
Lin Zheng laughed: "A scapegoat is the worst-case scenario, but we don't need to make things that bad." He grabbed Shen hope's shoulder:
"Xiao Shenxi, trust me. The investigations from above are getting stricter and stricter lately. Now that you and President Jiang have founded such a large organization, you have to make changes if you want to protect yourselves. We need to overturn the organization's basic logic and package all our subordinates as businessmen. Only in this way can we avoid investigations from above."
Lin Zheng smiled and said, "Moreover, with this businessman's uniform, we can secretly gather all the underground organizations in Jiangcheng in the future. Instead of killing them all like Mengmeng did, we can recruit those who are useful and discard those who are not, making the organization bigger and more formal! We can monopolize all the entertainment venues in Jiangcheng, and that's how we'll get better and better."
This series of words left Shen hope stunned. Moreover, as a secretary, she couldn't make decisions about these follow-up plans. What she cared about most and kept in mind right now was that Young Master Lin was really considering everything for her and President Jiang.
The next moment, Lin Zheng suddenly hugged Shen hope in his arms.
Unexpectedly pulled into his arms, Shen hope opened her eyes wide, feeling the warmth of the man's embrace, her hand holding the dagger momentarily at a loss.
A faint blush rose to her cheeks.
"Young Master Lin, you..."
Lin Zheng patted her back simply, his voice firm: "I'll say it again, trust me, okay? If even the two of you don't trust me, then I really can't do anything."
Shen hope turned her head slightly to look at Lin Zheng's profile, the dagger in her hand slowly lowering, her voice becoming very soft: "Um...I understand...Let me go first..."
Lin Zheng released her, and Shen hope seemed disappointed; he released her so quickly.