C21 It Was Difficult to Breathe!

The text message was brief, containing only a few urgent words:

Emergency! Respond immediately!

The sender was identified by a peculiar number, one without an area code, comprised solely of elevens and eights!

Chen Jun recognized this number, which is why he was suddenly gripped by anxiety.

He knew it belonged to the super bigwig of Prabury!

He hastily informed Lee Moxue and the others that he had an urgent matter to attend to before darting into his home office.

Upon entering, he found his encrypted computer already booted up, displaying a chat software interface he had never installed.

As Chen Jun stepped into the room, a black rose avatar on the chat window pulsed.

A message had arrived.

Chen Jun! Do you recognize me?

Chen Jun struggled to breathe as he realized who it was.

Someone who could effortlessly breach his secure work computer, who used the eleven-eight phone number, and the black rose avatar.

All these clues triggered a flood of deeply buried memories in Chen Jun's mind.

The Black Rose, once the dominant force in Prabury, Chigoris, had disappeared after marrying into the Chu family and bearing a son.

The Black Rose was none other than Chu Chenglong's biological mother!

Chen Jun's hands shook as he recalled the legend that if the Black Rose ever reemerged, Chigoris would be plunged into turmoil and bloodshed.

Was it beginning?

Chen Jun typed rapidly:

"Black Rose! I remember you. Your son is with me, and he's doing well!"

Black Rose replied: I'm aware. Please ensure his safety. I'm currently tied up with some matters and can't get away! I'm reaching out to you for three reasons. First, I did everything in my power to protect them when they were hunted years ago. Second, I need you to arrange for Miaomiao to marry my son as soon as possible. Upon my return, I expect to see him well-settled with a family of his own!

As Chen Jun was reading his computer screen, an email notification popped up.

It was a message from the finance department.

The content read:

President,

Rainsong has unconditionally invested one hundred billion yuan into our group!

Additionally, several mysterious individuals have each invested several billion.

The total investment amounts to two hundred billion yuan!

All the economic pressures on the group have been completely alleviated.

We've made a massive recovery!

Chen Jun was more excited than he'd ever been.

He instinctively believed that Black Rose was behind it all.

Black Rose had once been a renowned figure in Prabury.

Such a sum of money was trivial for her!

He also suspected that Rainsong's hundred billion was Black Rose's doing.

This was somewhat unexpected.

Had Black Rose been abroad all these years?

How else could he explain the situation with Rainsong?

It seemed likely that Black Rose had at least some connection with the Rainsong consortium!

Then, he suddenly remembered Chen Miaomiao.

Numerous companies had vied for the opportunity, yet Chen Miaomiao had secured it with ease.

All the irregularities seemed to make sense with Black Rose's reappearance!

Shortly after,

Black Rose logged off.

The chat software on his computer erased all traces of the conversation.

The call history on Chen Jun's phone vanished as well.

It was as if the exchange had never occurred.

Only the email from the finance department remained as evidence of the recent events.

Chen Jun stepped out of his study and into the hall, brimming with confidence. "Hahaha! I have two major announcements to make!"

"First, my group has received an investment of two hundred billion yuan!"

Lee Moxue and Chen Miaomiao were dumbfounded by the news.

Chen Jun elaborated, and their astonishment grew.

Rainsong had contributed one hundred billion, and several other enigmatic investors had added several billion more.

The total was two hundred billion yuan!

It was astounding!

Naturally, Chen Jun kept silent about Black Rose, simply because he was overjoyed.

The family's mood was jubilant and harmonious.

Lee Moxue decided it was time to celebrate: "Fantastic! Today is truly a day of double joy! Yang Hua, bring out that fifty-year-old vintage wine from our collection. Let's celebrate!"

The family was in high spirits.

Except for Chu Chenglong, who was somewhat puzzled.

He had clearly instructed Dark Night to invest ten billion.

So why had it turned into twenty billion?

"Dark Night, how much money did you invest in my uncle's company today?"

He immediately picked up the phone.

The voice on the other end replied, "Master, I followed your instructions to the letter and invested ten billion!"

Chu Chenglong grunted in acknowledgment, "Understood."

That meant...

Someone else was secretly helping Uncle Chen Jun.

But who could it be?

Right after hanging up, Chu Chenglong noticed Lee Moxue and Chen Miaomiao staring at him as if he were a fool.

Here we go again!

This guy was truly a master of tall tales. If he wasn't boasting, he was certainly on the path to it!

Chen Miaomiao, slightly tipsy, said with contempt, "Chu Chenglong, are you trying to claim that out of the twenty billion, ten billion was your contribution?"

Chu Chenglong wasn't interested in claiming credit; he was more curious about who else was backing Uncle Chen Jun from the shadows.

So he shook his head.

Just as Chen Miaomiao was about to add her two cents,

Chen Jun chimed in.

With the boldness of inebriation, he slurred, "I have another announcement! I've made up my mind to marry Miaomiao off to Chu Chenglong. You two should pick a date and tie the knot!"

Boom!

Chen Miaomiao was dumbfounded!

Her father wasn't joking after all; he was serious about marrying her off to Chu Chenglong!

But... how could she ever agree to marry Chu Chenglong?

Lee Moxue, frowning, stepped forward to steady Chen Jun, "You've had too much to drink. Come on, I'll take you back to your room. I should have known better than to let you drink; you always spout nonsense when you're drunk!"

Miaomiao marrying Chu Chenglong?

She was the first to object!

Her daughter was now a partner in the Rainsong project, destined to be a major fashion brand mogul!

How could she possibly marry Chu Chenglong, a man with nothing to his name who did nothing but boast all day?

Miaomiao was no longer the girl she used to be. As the saying goes, "A person climbs while water flows downhill." She had to think about the future. At a minimum, a man had to be a one-star general to be worthy of her beloved daughter!

That evening, Chu Chenglong returned to his bedroom when a black shadow flitted across the bay window—it was Dark Night. Chu Chenglong's voice was icy as he asked, "Have you discovered anything about the matter I asked you to look into?" Since his release from Dragon's Maw Prison, he had never lost sight of his primary goal—to uncover the truth behind the events of the past!

For now, he had no intention of visiting Prabury. He was aware that the population of Chigoris was a complex mix. Even his master had advised him to exercise patience and maintain a low profile upon his departure. Dark Night promptly responded, "Master, there's still no news. Despite my efforts, it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. It's as if your family's history has been erased from this world..."