249: Chapter 249 The Three Great Families

Zhou Wanqing's silence was finally cured by Su Nange.

He even used his humor to score a major win.

Zhou Wanqing never expected that, with only the two of them there, he would break the tension in such a way.

Of course, Zhou Wanqing only wanted to mess with this annoying man a little; she didn't actually intend to make things difficult for Su Nange.

But Su Nange was still showing off, continuing to speak to the AI: "Wow, you're amazing. My girlfriend actually spoke."

Before the AI could respond, Zhou Wanqing snatched Su Nange's phone and turned it off.

"Have you had enough? I'm your Older Female Cousin, not your girlfriend or whatever."

Su Nange said, "How about I ask again? Why my Older Female Cousin won't talk."

"You absolute jerk! I'm truly done with you!"

In her heart, Zhou Wanqing really envied Liu Yuan. Being with him every day must be so full of joy.

She felt as if she had become much younger herself.

"Why did you suddenly come looking for me? Aren't you living the high life? Was Qiantang not enough for you to stir up trouble in that you had to go to Shanghai to have dinner with Japanese people?"

"So, is that Japanese woman pretty?"

Su Nange had one arm around Zhou Wanqing, his head resting on her shoulder.

His nose twitched. "Strange, I didn't order dumplings. Where is this smell of vinegar coming from?"

As expected, he was tapped on the head again with the ends of two chopsticks.

"Older Female Cousin, you've misunderstood me. That Japanese woman was introduced through my cousin. What does she have to do with me?"

Zhou Wanqing was speechless. If she really thought about it, it was exactly as he said.

"Can you move away from me? I still need to eat."

Su Nange wanted to keep clinging to her, but seeing Zhou Wanqing's gaze, he reluctantly pulled away.

Zhou Wanqing really didn't know what to do with him.

However, Su Nange did have serious business to discuss with his Older Female Cousin today.

He told Zhou Wanqing everything that had happened in Shanghai.

"Older Female Cousin, help me analyze this."

Zhou Wanqing said, "It's not that I don't want to give you advice, but even I didn't know that Shanghai's underworld was so complex. It even involves a Japanese power."

"Then, Older Female Cousin, do you know anything about this Shangguan Family?"

Zhou Wanqing put down her chopsticks and thought for a moment.

"I wouldn't say I know them very well, but I know a fair amount."

"If you were to rank the families in China by tier, the Shangguan, Wen, and Murong families should be considered top-tier families on the same level."

"In ancient terms, they would be described as having held high offices for four generations, with students and former subordinates all over the world. Of course, during the revolutionary era, these three great families could also be said to have contributed the most."

"Isn't your grandfather a typical example? For the sake of ideals and the life we have now, he was willing to give everything."

Su Nange said, "I can imagine."

Zhou Wanqing shared some inside information: "Although the current Number One doesn't come from the three great families, they have, to some extent, received their tacit approval."

"If you further divide them by function, the Shangguan Family leads the military, the Wen Family leads the government, and the Murong Family leads the wealth—meaning they are responsible for economic development."

"However, the Murong Family isn't actually in Yanjing; their roots are in Gusu."

"But as for what you said about the Shangguan Family obtaining some 'extraterrestrial object,' I'm afraid not many people would know about that. So, those Japanese people definitely have bad intentions."

"You were right to refuse that woman."

"And I suspect she has her eye on your strength."

"She intentionally leaked this information to you with the goal of baiting you into being cannon fodder, acting as a disruptor so she can reap the benefits."

Su Nange refilled Zhou Wanqing's Coke to let her moisten her throat.

"As expected, my Older Female Cousin sees things clearly. Hearing you say it, I also feel glad I didn't agree to that wicked woman."

"Heh, don't try to flatter me. I don't believe for a second you didn't see through it."

"Hehe, I really didn't. But do you know anyone from the Shangguan Family? When we go to Yanjing..."

Zhou Wanqing quickly reached out to stop Su Nange. "Didn't I just say not to be a disruptor? What, has your curiosity really been piqued?"

Su Nange shook his head. "No."

His face was serious, and he didn't look like he was joking.

"Older Female Cousin, I'm only telling you this. Actually, our Ange Technology—meaning Professor Xu Zhiran and I—isn't primarily focused on researching those so-called artificial cells."

"What we are researching is precisely related to that 'phantom juice.'"

"Saionji Sawa was right. Our ultimate goal is to develop humanity toward immortality."

Zhou Wanqing was somewhat shocked.

Su Nange continued, "I certainly don't want to be a tool for the Japanese. But if I can get a bit of that extraterrestrial object... maybe I could quickly catch up to the United States's technology."

"Rumor has it that the United States's latest cancer-immunizing serum was refined from this phantom juice."

Zhou Wanqing felt that she really hadn't understood Su Nange well enough. So this was what he was actually doing.

Zhou Wanqing thought for a moment. "Such classified information—even I, or even members of the Shangguan Family, might not necessarily be clear on it."

"How about you wait until you see your grandfather and then see?"

Su Nange said, "I guess that's all we can do. Let's not talk about it anymore; let's eat."

Su Nange drove Zhou Wanqing home.

Zhou Wanqing suddenly mentioned, "Are you free this weekend?"

Su Nange gripped the steering wheel. "Ha, I definitely have to be free!"

Zhou Wanqing sighed. "The 'Acting' prefix of my General Manager title at City Investment has been removed. I wanted to keep it low-key, but the Liu brothers insisted on holding a banquet."

"After all, given my relationship with the Liu family, it's hard to refuse them. So I thought I might as well host a dinner myself and book it at your tea house."

Su Nange said, "No problem, that's great! What's with this 'yours' and 'mine'? From now on, whenever you want to go, just treat that tea house as your own."

Zhou Wanqing chuckled. "You're really becoming more and more like a capitalist. It seems I need to keep some distance from you."

Su Nange parked the car and leaned in again. A grown man acting spoiled without any shame.

When dealing with an older sister figure, doing this once in a while was very effective.

Zhou Wanqing really couldn't stand it and could only let Su Nange express his affection for her in the car.

However, Zhou Wanqing still maintained certain boundaries. "That's enough, don't go too far."

Su Nange helplessly stopped. "Let me walk you up."

"No, get lost. I know exactly what you're trying to do."

Zhou Wanqing straightened her clothes, opened the car door, and went upstairs.

On his way back, Su Nange was thinking.

The Shangguan Family in the capital—how exactly should he make a breakthrough?

Meanwhile, as an important member of the Shangguan Family, Shangguan Lingwei was playing mahjong with several wealthy socialites.

Right when things were getting exciting, she suddenly received a message from Ouyang Yunzheng.

Shangguan Lingwei said, "Something suddenly came up. Let's continue tomorrow."

The socialites all left happily, secretly glad they wouldn't have to lose more money tonight.

In Shanghai, who would dare to win money from Shangguan Lingwei?

A short while later, Ouyang Yunzheng arrived at Shangguan Lingwei's private villa.

"What is it? What's the emergency this time?"

Ouyang Yunzheng knelt on the floor again, not looking at all like one of Shanghai's top young masters.

As he massaged the woman's legs, he said, "Godmother, I've received news. The two killers protected by the Japanese have escaped."

Shangguan Lingwei had a look on her face that said, 'Are you kidding me?' "If they escaped, they escaped."

"Godmother, I have an idea. Those two killers are currently being hunted across the city by the Shanghai police. Why don't we provide them with some protection?"

Shangguan Lingwei looked serious. "Are you crazy? Why get involved in that kind of trouble?"

"Godmother, think about it. Those two killers are being chased all over the city. If we give them a hand now, won't they be incredibly grateful to us?"

"Besides, since they came out of the Japanese building, it means their relationship with the Japanese isn't actually good. There might even be a conflict."

"In exchange, wouldn't we have two more chess pieces in our hands?"

"Also, it's said that those two killers are very, very strong."

Shangguan Lingwei thought for a moment. "What exactly is your plan? Tell me in detail."