Ch. 81A brush with death
Plot points and events
- Jiang Ze has a sudden vision of Meng Zhiyuan dying in a car crash caused by brake tampering. When Meng Zhiyuan is about to drive, Jiang Ze panics and stops him.
- Jiang Ze suspects a servant who hurried past them. Meng Zhiyuan trusts his warning and asks Meng Zhixing to check the garage surveillance.
- The footage identifies the servant, who is captured and tied up in a storage building. Meng Zhiyuan orders Jiang Ze to wait outside while he questions him.
- After hearing the servant’s cries, Jiang Ze returns and confronts him with a knife. The servant first claims that “Eldest Young Master Meng” paid him, then reveals a deeper grievance: he believes Shen Yun should control the Meng Corporation and says his wife died serving the Meng family, which gave him and his son only a small house in compensation.
- The servant becomes incoherent, and Meng Zhiyuan has him silenced. Jiang Ze wonders why the servant knows Shen Yun so well and suspects a connection between them.
Character developments
- Jiang Ze realizes how close Meng Zhiyuan came to dying and recognizes that he has relied too much on the system and underestimated the danger of the world he has entered. He remains shaken but acts decisively to protect Meng Zhiyuan.
- Meng Zhiyuan shows tenderness toward Jiang Ze, comforting him without demanding an explanation and trusting his warning immediately. He also reveals his ruthless side when interrogating the suspect.
- Meng Zhixing is alarmed by the attempted murder but familiar with his older brother’s brutality. He is surprised by Jiang Ze’s unexpectedly threatening behavior.
- The servant appears drugged or mentally unstable and exposes a personal grievance and possible ties to Shen Yun.
Character interactions
- Jiang Ze clings to Meng Zhiyuan and warns him not to enter the car; Meng Zhiyuan responds with reassurance and warmth.
- Meng Zhiyuan relies on Meng Zhixing to investigate, then shields Jiang Ze from the interrogation by sending him outside.
- Meng Zhixing jokes about his brother’s hidden cruelty, only to be startled when Meng Zhiyuan overhears him.
- Jiang Ze and Meng Zhiyuan both intimidate the servant, while the suspect’s outburst leaves Jiang Ze questioning his connection to Shen Yun.
Significant themes
- Fate versus intervention: Jiang Ze’s warning prevents a likely fatal event, but he fears that both characters remain vulnerable until he gains more Luck Value.
- Trust and protection: Meng Zhiyuan accepts Jiang Ze’s warning without question and tries to spare him from violence.
- Hidden brutality and loyalty: Both Jiang Ze and Meng Zhiyuan reveal a harsher side when protecting one another.
- Grievance and resentment: The servant’s claims suggest that perceived injustices within the Meng family may be fueling the conspiracy.