Chapter 490 - 489: IF Line: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? 58

Chapter 490: Chapter 489: IF Line: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? 58

’There’s nothing scarier than my cousin’s sudden concern.’

Jiang Xia hesitated for a good while. Bypassing the incidents involving his parents being called, fighting his drill instructor, skipping class, pulling all-nighters at internet cafes, and beating up a punk who was harassing someone, he gave a concise summary. "It’s great. College life is awesome."

"Mm, that’s good then."

He Hanshi’s lips curved slightly. "Are you living on campus right now? I happen to have an empty house in L City, only a ten-minute-or-so drive from your school. Do you want to move in?"

Jiang Xia instinctively refused. "Cousin, I’m doing fine at school. I’d better not."

"If you move in, I won’t tell your parents about you skipping class and staying up all night on the internet."

He Hanshi added nonchalantly.

Jiang Xia scratched his head in embarrassment. ’As expected, I can’t hide anything from my cousin.’

"Alright, Cousin. I’ll apply to the dean of my department in the next couple of days. Once it’s approved, I’ll move over."

"Mm."

He Hanshi said no more and hung up. Then, he casually transferred him 500,000 for spending money.

Jiang Xia stared at the sudden transfer on his phone and hugged it blissfully.

’My cousin might be cold and seem aloof sometimes, but he’s really generous with money.’

He happily sent back a "Thanks, boss" meme and took a few of his college buddies out for a huge dinner that same night.

His buddies all cheered in unison: "Thank you, Daddy, for this meal!"

After arranging everything, He Hanshi stayed the night directly in the apartment above Shi Lan’s.

However, when he opened his tablet to do some work, he discovered that Yan Huoshui’s secret online search for the cat had ended.

His pupils contracted. ’Did he find Pumpkin?’

At this thought, he immediately dialed Yan Huoshui’s number.

Yan Huoshui took a moment to answer. He knew why He Hanshi was calling, so he got straight to the point. "I didn’t find it. Someone just told me that it already knows we’re looking."

"Who told you? Knows what?"

He Hanshi’s lashes lowered, and he pressed his lips together.

Over the phone, Yan Huoshui slowly uttered two words: "Ye Ming."

The Ye Family was a bit different from their own families. Their ancestors were wealthy merchants, but for the last three generations, they had transformed into a scholarly family. Starting with the grandparents, they had all been university professors.

The Ye Family moved in different circles. Aside from seeing them frequently at auctions, they rarely attended high-society banquets. This was especially true for Ye Ming; He Hanshi had only crossed paths with him twice.

Yan Huoshui continued, "Ye Ming contacted me after seeing the campaign I started. He told me he’d also adopted a very smart cat, one that even deleted a video he recorded of it rolling its eyes. Apparently, that must be the Benefactor. The time he adopted it aligns perfectly with when the Benefactor disappeared."

"So, it’s deliberately avoiding contact with us."

As he spoke, Yan Huoshui couldn’t help but sneer, his eyes turning icy. "So ungrateful. Use us and toss us aside."

"You’re saying Pumpkin can delete videos from a human’s phone?"

He Hanshi was slightly stunned. The suspicion he had worked so hard to suppress resurfaced.

Yan Huoshui nodded. "Mhm, yes. He used software to recover the deleted video and showed it to me. Its appearance was identical to the Benefactor."

As he spoke, he sent a copy to He Hanshi as well.

He Hanshi opened it on his tablet and glanced at it. From the look in its eyes, he immediately recognized it as Pumpkin.

"What about you? Any leads on your end?"

After a pause on the other end of the line, Yan Huoshui turned the question back on him.

He Hanshi closed the video on his tablet and replied concisely, "None."

"Oh? Then why have you been in L City recently?"

Yan Huoshui was clearly skeptical. He Hanshi’s expression remained composed. "A business trip."

"Fine."

Yan Huoshui didn’t press further, but he quietly added L City to his own itinerary.

’He Hanshi is clearly acting strange. How could I not know what he’s thinking?’

’If I had a lead on the Benefactor, I wouldn’t be honest with him either. We’re rivals. First come, first served. It’s a matter of who can win the Benefactor’s favor first.’

Yan Huoshui mulled it over for a moment. He decided to schedule his first concert, which would double as the release event for his new song "Benefactor," in L City. Furthermore, tickets would be half-price for anyone who brought a cat.

’I’m going to make a grand entrance. I’m going to tell the Benefactor loud and clear that I’ve come looking for it. It can’t just use me and throw me away.’

After ending the call with Yan Huoshui, He Hanshi couldn’t help but tap his fingers lightly on his desk. The possibility that Shi Lan was Pumpkin ran through his mind over and over.

’It’s an absurd theory, but I have possessed a cat once before. Maybe Shi Lan had a similar strange experience. And why, just as I was searching for Pumpkin, did I happen to possess Shi Lan’s cat of all things?’

He sat rigidly at his desk for a long time, all thoughts of work gone. After a while, he decided to wash up and go to bed early.

’Maybe I can do it again.’

’If I really can, this time, I plan to explain directly that I’m a person.’

But unfortunately, when morning came, He Hanshi was still a person. He hadn’t turned into a cat.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, got up, and washed his face.

Assistant Zhu brought breakfast and the day’s schedule. Even though He Hanshi was away on a business trip, work at the Capital Company still needed to get done. There were numerous matters requiring his decision and endless meetings to attend.

After a busy morning of work passed.

He Hanshi timed his departure to coincide with Shi Lan’s usual time for going out.

Unfortunately, it was hot today, and Shi Lan didn’t leave her apartment.

He waited for two days before he finally saw her.

He Hanshi got out of his car and pretended to walk past her casually. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Shi Lan looked at him in surprise. ’Huh? Has He Hanshi been living here recently?’

’At his cousin’s place?’

But she quickly averted her gaze. Just then, He Hanshi pretended to twist his ankle and was about to fall. With lingering apprehension, Shi Lan quickly caught him, struggling to support his weight.

"Are you all right, Mr... Mr. He?"

Shi Lan remembered that his legs had been disabled before. If he fell hard on the ground again, she feared he could reinjure them.

Assistant Chen, a step too slow, rushed over nervously. He helped Shi Lan steady He Hanshi. "Mr. He, are you okay?"

He Hanshi shook his head and straightened up. He gave Shi Lan a slight, grateful smile. "What a coincidence. We meet again. I injured my legs in the past, so sometimes I get a sudden sharp pain when I walk. I almost ended up with a new injury. Thank you for your help, Miss."

"What? Mr. He, are your legs still hurting? Should we go to the hospital for a check-up? Your health is more important than work."

Before Shi Lan could say anything, Assistant Chen had a bigger, more worried reaction than she did.

For the first time, He Hanshi felt that his usually competent Assistant Chen was being a bit dense. He shot him an icy glare, then turned back to Shi Lan with the same gentle and warm look as before.

Assistant Chen belatedly realized something and scratched his head sheepishly.

A flicker of concern crossed Shi Lan’s eyes. After all, during the time she was a cat, He Hanshi had been truly good to her. People aren’t made of stone; how could she feel nothing? The thought that he had to endure such pain made her heart ache for him inexplicably.

She couldn’t help but agree. "Yes, your assistant is right, Mr. He. If your legs are bothering you, you should get them checked out more often. It’s a good thing you didn’t fall just now."

’Thank goodness,’ Shi Lan thought, feeling a sense of relief.