Chapter 131 - New Energy Sources (Part II)

"No, no, that's not how it is, Zhang Jing. What is wrong with you today? Please don't misunderstand; you are beautiful, very beautiful, but it is impossible for us. Don't you know I love Su Xin?" Looking at her pitiful appearance, my heart softened instantly. I wanted to explain something, but in the end, I could only use Su Xin as a shield. I could not deny that Zhang Jing’s presence had long since taken root in my heart. Although I had always despised myself for such thoughts, feeling that they were a betrayal of Su Xin, the feelings in my heart were not something my mind could control. This was precisely why I dared not face the sexy and beautiful Zhang Jing before me. I was afraid—afraid that I would lose control just as I had back in the capital. I had already wronged Chu Qitong; I could not wrong Zhang Jing as well!

"Of course I know! You don't need to tell me again. I know you love Su Xin, and I know Su Xin likes you too!" Zhang Jing pushed my hands away, crying out in agitation, "Xiao Qiang, but I really like you! I truly love you so much! Why can't you spare even a little bit of love for me? Is even a tiny bit impossible?"

"Zhang Jing, don't be like this, I..." I had just started to stammer an excuse when I suddenly felt a soft warmth enter my embrace! The seductive fragrance rushed into my olfactory nerves, leaving my mind blank in an instant...

"Xiao Qiang, I love you! I really love you so much... Even if... even if I can't be your lover, I... I am willing to be your mistress, to be your mistress for a lifetime... Wuwu... Do you know how much pain I'm in? Do you know how hard it is to love someone so desperately... Xiao Qiang..." Zhang Jing, clutching me tightly, wept incessantly. Tonight, she seemed to have cast all caution to the winds, confessing her feelings to me like a woman possessed. Feeling her fullness against me through the thin nightdress and her delicate, smooth skin, I truly began to lose my way.

"Slap!" I struck myself hard across the face, then abruptly pushed Zhang Jing away. Looking at her tear-stained face, I lowered my head in agony and said helplessly, "I'm sorry. Please, let me be alone for a while, okay? Go downstairs and get some sleep. I... I will think about this carefully."

"I'm sorry... Xiao Qiang, I... I was just..." Zhang Jing had been stunned when she saw me hit myself. Upon hearing my words, she immediately wanted to apologize, but that choked, fragile voice only made an inexplicable irritation rise within me.

"Go! I need to be alone, just alone!!" I pointed forward, and for the first time in my life, I roared at her, "Can you just let me calm down?"

"Okay... Th-then I'll go downstairs." Startled by my shout, Zhang Jing nodded obediently like a submissive girl, her eyes filled with panic as she turned and walked downstairs. Watching her beautiful figure, I collapsed heavily onto the floor.

A tangled mess. One Chu Qitong wasn't enough, and now Zhang Jing had been added to the mix; my emotions had unknowingly become increasingly complex. No, I couldn't go on like this! There must be a solution, and I had to resolve these emotional matters. It felt as if, for the first time, I had truly resolved to face all of this. "It's time to have a real talk with Su Xin." I sighed deeply; the things I feared would eventually happen, and I had to face them sooner or later. Since that was the case, it was better to do it sooner.

I stood up sluggishly from the floor, silently closing the glass door of the laboratory. Looking at Xiao Kai, who was staring at me from the monitor, and the busy robots No. 1 and No. 2, I sighed and returned to my chair, closing my eyes to steady myself and begin calmly planning my next steps.

And while I was agonizing over my love life, someone in the capital of Huaxia, in the north, was also troubled because of me.

"This guy is truly a treasure. Damn it, the Huazhu family got to him first!" A trace of inexplicable anger appeared on Fu Rong's aged face. Looking at the documents in his hand, he said to Wang Ming, who was standing to the side, "Little Wang, how is the matter I asked you to handle coming along?"

"Old Chief, the task you assigned has been completed. That kid, Xiao Qiang, has absolutely no suspicion. What should be my next step? Please instruct me." Wang Ming’s expression was grave. After saying this, he seemed worried and added, "Old Chief, I know you are worried that Xiao Qiang will become a major threat to the Fu family, but I must remind you: the current situation is effectively a division of Huaxia by the Eight Great Families. Even if Xiao Qiang collaborates with the Huazhu family, there are still seven other families watching like tigers. If the Fu family takes action, shouldn't we proceed with caution? You know, the mantis stalks the cicada, but there is more than one oriole watching..."

"Mm, you are quite right. I have considered this, so the best outcome for now is for that kid to be sensible, recognize the power of the Fu military family, and defect to us. Sigh, Little Wang, it’s not that I, Fu Rong, am overly obsessive, but that boy is simply too astonishing! You know as well as I do that only two superpowers in the world possess aerospace vector engine technology. If the Huaxia Air Force were to acquire such an engine, it would be equivalent to transforming Huaxia from a weak air power into a formidable force capable of rivaling any nation! It is a pity that such technology has fallen into the hands of the Huazhu family. Their military authority is already on par with the Fu family, and this would cause the air force to lean entirely toward them. Sigh, let’s set that aside—what I fear is that this 'treasure' named Xiao Qiang might possess other things I haven't even imagined. If the Fu family loses its edge in the military, then the Eight Great Families will soon be rewritten as seven..." Fu Rong sighed heavily, then suddenly seemed to remember something and hurriedly asked, "Little Wang, did my daughter, Ming'er, notice anything when you went to City C to see my son?"

"Rest assured, Old Chief. Miss Fu Ming has no idea about your plan. However, I could tell that Miss Fu Ming is indeed interested in Xiao Qiang. Old Chief, could we wait and see? If Miss Fu Ming succeeds in making Xiao Qiang like her, that might not be a bad thing," Wang Ming reminded him.

"Hmph, you know that kid; he's head over heels for that Su girl. I doubt Fu Ming has the ability to make him give up on her." Fu Rong’s expression turned cold. "In any case, things have not yet reached a point of desperation. How the game proceeds from here depends on the kid himself. Little Wang, the person you arranged is a good pawn; make sure they are not exposed. Small figures can often turn everything upside down at the critical moment!"

"Yes, Old Chief, I understand." Wang Ming nodded respectfully to Fu Rong. "But what about your son? He is already at the level of a Corps Commander. If he continues to clash with you like this, there will always be people in the Fu family coveting your position."

"Hmph! That good-for-nothing son of mine, relying on his bit of talent, doesn't put his own father in his eyes. Instead of staying here in the capital, he insists on running off to that wretched City C to be some Corps Commander. Does he think being a Corps Commander is so impressive? Hmph, he doesn't realize how much trouble his departure has caused me! The future successor of the Fu family acting so rashly. Sigh, I bear some responsibility for this; if I hadn't been so ruthless back then, he wouldn't be so resentful of me. Forget it, it’s only temporary. I will use my connections to have him transferred back soon. By the way, what was his reaction to the Xiao Qiang matter?"

"His reaction was the same as the other generals in the families—naturally, he was surprised. I also spoke to him about the relationship between Miss Fu Ming and Xiao Qiang, but he didn't say anything. It seems your son has his own ideas." Wang Ming answered respectfully.

"Mm, it is good that he has his own ideas. That boy is a treasure, after all. If I were to truly destroy him, while it might preserve the Fu family's position, it would inevitably ruin the future of Huaxia, and I don't want to see that either." Fu Rong pondered for a moment before adding, "If my son has the intent to get to know the boy, that might not be a bad thing. Heh heh, I have already cast myself as the villain, so there is still an opportunity for him to play the hero. Return to City C tomorrow and implement the things I ordered in detail. Also, send people to keep a close watch on my son and that kid; if there is any movement between them, notify me immediately."

"Yes! Old Chief, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave." Wang Ming gave a standard military salute to Fu Rong and, after receiving a nod of approval, walked out of the room.

Staring at the thick stack of documents on the desk, Fu Rong's face suddenly seemed much paler, turning him into a frail, elderly man nearing the end of his days. "To think there is actually such a young genius in this world... For the sake of the family, must I really sacrifice the future of Huaxia? Xiao Qiang, oh Xiao Qiang, I hope you are truly sensible..."