20: Chapter 20 Arrangements for the Miyano Sisters

In the pitch-black night, the tires of a black sedan rolled over the wet cobblestone road, making a faint "rustling" sound that broke the late-night silence of Lins Office.

The headlights pierced through the curtain of rain, casting two long, narrow beams of light onto the white wall of the villa, before slowly extinguishing.

Butler Ochiai was the first to get out of the car. A black umbrella opened in his hand, shielding him from the torrential downpour.

He walked around to the back seat and elegantly opened the door, tilting the umbrella at the same time to ensure the person inside would not be drenched by the rain.

The moment the car door opened, a scent mixed with the dampness of rain and the smell of disinfectant wafted out.

Miyano Shiho sat in the back seat, her body still somewhat weak and her complexion pale, but in those eyes that had once been filled with despair, there was now a hint of vigilance and curiosity.

She subconsciously pulled the black coat that clearly didn't belong to her tighter around herself—it was the one Butler Ochiai had handed to her on the road, carrying a faint scent of mothballs that was unexpectedly comforting.

"Miss Miyano, please get out."

"The Boss is waiting for you inside."

Butler Ochiai's voice was gentle and respectful, devoid of any unnecessary emotion.

Miyano Shiho did not move immediately, her gaze sweeping over the villa hidden among the greenery before her.

Unlike the cold and oppressive atmosphere of White Dove Pharmaceutical Factory, the lights here were a warm yellow, spilling onto the lawn through the floor-to-ceiling windows like melted butter, even dyeing the rain strands with a touch of gentleness.

The design of the villa was simple and grand, with blooming roses wrapped around the iron gate; even on a rainy night, one could tell it was meticulously maintained daily.

Is this... really the residence of that mysterious man?

And is it... the place where my sister might be?

Miyano Shiho's heart began to beat uncontrollably, filled with both anticipation and fear.

She anticipated seeing the face she had thought of day and night, yet feared that all of this was just a carefully woven deception, and what awaited her would be even deeper despair.

"Please."

Butler Ochiai reminded her gently again, his tone carrying just the right amount of patience.

Miyano Shiho took a deep breath and gripped the phone in her hand—the phone from which the stranger had called, which was her only solace at this moment.

She bent down and stepped out of the car. Butler Ochiai's umbrella shielded her head in time, blocking out the cold rain.

Just then, the villa's front door suddenly opened.

Miyano Akemi stood at the doorway, wearing soft loungewear, her hair casually tied back.

When her gaze fell upon Miyano Shiho, she froze, her eyes widening instantly, and tears welled up without warning.

"Shiho..."

Her voice trembled, barely audible.

Hearing this familiar voice, Miyano Shiho looked up abruptly, staring at the figure in the doorway.

It's my sister! It's really my sister!

She had lost some weight and her complexion wasn't great, but the sparkle in her eyes couldn't be faked—it was the real, living sparkle of someone alive!

"Sis... Sister..."

Miyano Shiho's voice choked. The fear, sadness, and despair that had built up over the past few days all turned into hot tears and gushed out the moment she saw her kin.

She no longer cared about vigilance or pretense, and like a long-lost child, she ran frantically toward Miyano Akemi.

Miyano Akemi also hurried forward to meet her, and the sisters embraced tightly in the rain.

"Waaah... Sister... I thought... I thought you were really..."

Miyano Shiho buried her face in Miyano Akemi's shoulder, crying heart-rendingly, her body trembling violently from the agitation and grievances.

The loneliness, fear, and despair of these past few days finally found an outlet at this moment.

"I'm here, Shiho, I'm here..."

Miyano Akemi held her sister tightly, her hand constantly stroking her messy hair, tears soaking their clothes.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't save you sooner, and let you suffer..."

She could feel how thin her sister's body was and could smell the faint scent of disinfectant on her, her heart aching beyond measure.

How much pain had this sister, who had been so sensible since childhood that it made one's heart ache, endured in that hellhole?

Butler Ochiai stood silently to the side, holding the umbrella to shield them from the rain. The red canopy of the umbrella acted like a warm barrier, isolating the reunited sisters from the cold, rainy night.

Lin Long stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, quietly watching this scene without stepping forward to disturb them.

He held a glass of warm water in his hand; while his fingertips felt the coolness of the glass, a warmth welled up in his heart.

This was the result he wanted. To reunite broken family bonds and let desperate souls find a place of belonging.

Perhaps this was more meaningful than simple exploitation and transactions.

The Miyano sisters hugged and cried for a long time until both their emotions had calmed down a bit, and then Miyano Akemi took Miyano Shiho's hand and walked into the warm living room.

"Come in quickly, it's cold outside."

Miyano Akemi pulled her sister to sit on the sofa by the fireplace and draped a blanket over her.

"I'll go pour you some hot milk to warm you up."

Miyano Shiho nodded, but her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the only stranger in the living room.

Lin Long was sitting on the single sofa opposite, holding a document, seemingly reading it, but his gaze landed gently on her.

He was not wearing the impeccable suit he had on during the day but had changed into comfortable gray loungewear. He looked less sharp than he did in the business world, appearing more relaxed and homey, yet he still couldn't hide his steady aura.

Was it this man... who saved my sister and then sent people to save me?

Miyano Shiho's vigilance rose again. She straightened her back, trying to make herself look less disheveled. Her voice was hoarse from crying, yet she still maintained a sense of distance:

"Sir, was it you who saved me and my sister?"

"You could say that."

Lin Long put down the document and smiled slightly.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Lin Long, the head of Lins Information Consulting Office."

"Miyano Shiho."

She responded concisely, staring intently at Lin Long, trying to discern something from his expression.

"Why did you save me? And why did you save my sister?"

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world; Miyano Shiho, having lived in the Black Organization since childhood, understood this principle better than anyone.

Her experience in the Black Organization taught her that behind any seemingly free help lay an equivalent exchange, or even more demanding conditions.

Lin Long did not answer immediately but signaled for Butler Ochiai to hand a cup of hot cocoa to Miyano Shiho.

"Warm yourself up first, we'll talk slowly."

Miyano Shiho hesitated for a moment before taking the hot cocoa.

The warm liquid transferred heat to her hands, dispelling some of the chill and allowing her tense nerves to relax slightly.

"Saving Akemi was because of her request."

Lin Long spoke slowly, his tone frank.

"She wanted to leave the Black Organization, so I helped her, and the price was that she would come to work at my office."

Miyano Shiho looked at Miyano Akemi. The latter was busy in the kitchen, and upon hearing this, she turned her head and nodded at her, her eyes filled with a reassuring smile.

"As for saving you..."

Lin Long's gaze fell on Miyano Shiho with a hint of appreciation.

"On one hand, it's for Akemi's sake; she is, after all, your only family. On the other hand, I very much admire your talent, Miss Miyano Shiho, or should I say, Dr. Sherry."

Sherry!

Hearing this code name, Miyano Shiho's body stiffened abruptly, a flash of shock in her eyes.

He actually knew about this too?!

Lin Long seemed not to notice her reaction and continued:

"APTX4869, retrovirus research, programmed cell death control... Your research results are top-tier, even in the entire scientific community."

Miyano Shiho's complexion turned even paler, and her fingers gripping the hot cocoa tightened slightly.

Who on earth was this man? How could he know so much about her research? Could it be that he was also from some secret organization, wanting to exploit her research results?

"What do you want me to do?"

Her voice turned cold as she prepared for the worst.

"Develop poisons for you like in the Black Organization? Or conduct other human experiments?"

Miyano Shiho had already made up her mind; even if Lin Long asked her to research such poisons again or conduct human experiments, she would agree. After all, Lin Long had saved her and her sister, and to repay this debt of gratitude, it didn't matter if she stayed in the darkness.

"No."

Lin Long shook his head, his eyes serious.

"I will not force you to do anything you don't want to do. I am interested in your research, but I would rather see it used for the right path instead of becoming a tool for murder."

"The right path?"

Miyano Shiho scoffed, her tone filled with thick self-mockery.

"Does someone with hands stained with blood deserve to talk about the right path?"

Miyano Shiho knew how many lives the APTX4869 she developed had already taken; she couldn't even count them herself.

"The past cannot be changed, but the future can be chosen."

Lin Long's voice was calm yet forceful.

"You can choose to use your talent to make up for past mistakes, for example, by developing an antidote for APTX4869, or researching drugs that can benefit humanity."

Miyano Shiho was stunned.

Make up for mistakes? Develop an antidote?

This was something she had never thought of. In the Black Organization, her research was only to satisfy The Boss's ambition; it was a lethal weapon. No one had ever told her that her talent could also be used for the "right path," or that she could "make up" for things.

"I..."

She opened her mouth but found she didn't know what to say.

At this moment, Miyano Akemi walked over with a plate of freshly baked cookies, placed them on the coffee table, and said softly:

"Shiho, Mr. Lin Long is a good person; you can trust him. Thanks to his protection during this time, I have been able to live safely until now."

She sat beside Miyano Shiho and held her sister's hand:

"Sister knows you have suffered a lot, and I know the guilt in your heart. But we cannot live in the past forever, can we? Mr. Lin Long has given us a new opportunity, an opportunity to stay away from the darkness and start over."

Miyano Shiho looked at the sincerity and anticipation in her sister's eyes, then at Lin Long's deep and frank eyes, and the ice in her heart seemed to start slowly melting.

Starting over...

This word was too distant for her, yet it was full of temptation.

"I... need time to consider."

Finally, she said in a low voice. She couldn't make a decision immediately; years of dark experiences made it hard for her to easily trust anyone, but she also didn't refuse directly—at least, she was willing to try to trust.

"That's fine."

Lin Long nodded without the slightest coercion.

"Butler Ochiai has already prepared a room for you, right next to Akemi's. You can stay here first, get some rest, and adjust your state of mind. Whenever you've made up your mind, tell me your answer."

He paused and added:

"It is very safe here; people from the Black Organization cannot find this place. You can rest assured."

Miyano Shiho didn't speak, which counted as tacit agreement.

Seeing this, Miyano Akemi happily pulled her sister up:

"Shiho, let me take you to see your room. There are new clothes I prepared for you inside. You should take a hot shower first and get a good night's sleep."

Miyano Shiho was pulled upstairs by her sister. When they reached the stairs, she couldn't help but look back at Lin Long.

The man was sitting on the sofa, holding his water glass, looking calmly at the rainy night outside the window, as if the conversation that had just determined her fate was merely a trivial matter.

This man... would he really give her a chance to start over?

Miyano Shiho's heart was filled with doubts, but more than that, there was a faint, quietly growing hope.

In the living room, Butler Ochiai said to Lin Long in a low voice:

"Sir, the Shadow Guards have finished cleaning up all traces at White Dove Pharmaceutical Factory and left no clues. There is currently no unusual activity from Gin's side."

"Very good."

Lin Long nodded.

"Strengthen the guard, especially near Akemi's and Miyano Shiho's rooms; there cannot be any mistakes."

"Yes."

After Butler Ochiai retreated, only Lin Long was left in the living room.

He walked to the window, watching the rain gradually subside, and a faint smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

Miyano Shiho's arrival was just the beginning.

With the addition of this genius scientist, his bargaining chips for countering the Black Organization had increased a little more.

More importantly, through this counterattack, Lin Long also proved to the Black Organization that he was not someone who could be easily manipulated.

Perhaps this game of chess with the Black Organization was not just for power and victory, but also to protect these souls struggling in the darkness, allowing them to embrace the light once again.

The rainy night gradually ceased, and a faint glimmer of light faintly appeared on the horizon.

The legend belonging to Lin Long continued, and this time, he had two more important partners by his side.