Upon hearing these words, Chen Lishu's pupils constricted. She then turned to the man before her with a wary expression, "Sir, what are you talking about? I don't quite understand."
"My name is Qin Chen." Seeing Chen Lishu's reaction, Qin Chen's suspicions were confirmed. He looked at her with increasing gentleness and then spoke softly, "Don't worry, child. I've already investigated your background.
I heard you came from a poor rural area and never went to school or received professional training. In just one month, you led a not-so-wealthy family to prosperity!
Coupled with the works you've produced over the years, I'm quite certain you're not from this era. There's no need to be afraid. The reason I know this is because I come from the same place as you. We can say we are family!"
Sensing that Qin Chen meant her no harm, Chen Lishu's lips curved upwards slightly. She then adopted a relaxed posture, attempting to mislead the man before her, and asked tentatively, "You're also from the future, decades from now? You say this is all transmigration, but why do some people have different fates?
Looking at how luxurious your residence is, and that you are accompanying the Empress, what's going on? Are you related to the Empress? You're both around the same age, could you possibly be a couple?"
Qin Chen was taken aback by Chen Lishu's question, then burst into laughter. With a hint of melancholy, he asked, "I know why you're asking this, but before I confess, could you answer a few questions for me?"
If the man before her was the experimental subject she was looking for, Chen Lishu absolutely dared not offend him now, especially since her godmother's illness depended on him for treatment.
Therefore, facing the man's request, Chen Lishu nodded and said, "Ask whatever you want. As long as I can answer it, I'll tell you everything!"
Qin Chen's gaze grew deeper. Chen Lishu couldn't help but feel that the man's mental state seemed a bit off. He was also a transmigrator, so why was he living such a miserable life?
Just as Chen Lishu was wondering if the man had mental issues and if his claims of transmigration were fabricated, he suddenly spoke, "Why are you so good to that family?
Oh, and according to my investigation, you're married and have two children. Aren't you afraid that if you transmigrate back one day, all these people will disappear from your side, and you won't be able to accept it, leading to mental issues and a passive approach to life?"
Upon hearing the phrase "mental issues," Chen Lishu raised an eyebrow and instantly understood Qin Chen's situation: "But if you think about so many things, doesn't your mental state become problematic?
When I returned, it was when the family was at its most difficult. I didn't have your good fortune to transmigrate directly into royalty. At that time, there were several mouths to feed at home. I only had one thought: to make money and prevent the regrets of my past life from reappearing in this one!
When people are busy with something, they naturally won't think so much. Most importantly, through years of interaction, I know they are flesh-and-blood human beings. If I ignore their love for me, my life is destined to be tragic!
I never thought about returning one day. If I really go back, then so be it. This is my real experience, and I can search for their traces in my original era!
Don't hurt those around you because of your unclear attitude and ignore their love. Isn't the opportunity for a second chance given by heaven meant to make up for past regrets? Why leave regrets in both lives?"
If these words had come from anyone else, Qin Chen would have dismissed them as platitudes. But spoken by Chen Lishu, they carried a different weight. He saw happiness in her, and perhaps he too could live such a happy life!
With this thought, Qin Chen's eyes welled up with tears. The grown man's voice choked with emotion as he spoke, "Thank you for appearing. You've solved more than half a lifetime of my confusion. I've lived these past decades in a daze. Despite being so much older than you, why can't I figure things out? Why am I so unsuccessful?"
"If I were living the same life as you, perhaps my current state would be the same as yours, constantly worrying that things aren't real. This is what people call it when God closes a window but opens another from a different direction!
After all this talk, you still haven't told me if you're the person I'm looking for. You've also investigated my family's situation, haven't you? If I don't get the antidote, my relatives will disappear. I don't want this to happen!" Chen Lishu looked at Qin Chen with hopeful eyes.
Under Chen Lishu's expectant gaze, Qin Chen slowly nodded, "That's right, I am the person you're looking for. There's no rush to save people. I developed the medicine myself, and I know its pace. It won't break out so quickly.
I've lived in this era for decades, and I've only encountered old fogeys. Now that my family has appeared, we naturally have to have a good chat. Sit down quickly, and I'll have someone prepare some late-night snacks. How about some skewers?"
Chen Lishu scratched her head, finding the language slightly out of place for the era, and then nodded, "Of course, that sounds good!"
Soon, Qin Chen ordered the butler to bring out the prepared food, and the two chatted casually. The atmosphere here was quite friendly, but the situation elsewhere was not as pleasant.
----
He Group, a young assistant nervously pushed open the office door and said, "Mr. He, we intended to investigate whether there were any anomalies along Miss Chen's route leaving the banquet, but the hotel staff said it's confidential information involving the Empress's privacy and wouldn't allow us to investigate the surveillance footage!"
"Privacy?" A cold smile appeared on He Zinian's face. He picked up his suit jacket from the chair and said, "Very well, I'll go and see for myself what kind of privacy this is!"
With that, He Zinian's figure vanished from the office. The driver waiting outside sped an hour-long journey into just half an hour.
Outside the palace gates, the guards saw He Zinian's arrival and quickly stepped forward to block him, asking, "Ah, Mr. He, do you have an appointment? Could you please show us your reservation? We can then arrange for you to meet the Empress at a nearby location!"