The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 194. Shen Xitong gets beaten up

Chapter 194: 194. Shen Xitong gets beaten up

"From your earlier descriptions, you seemed to prefer being close to your adopted daughter. Why is that?" Doctor Zhou, the therapist Shen Qian had found for Chu Yunrong, had been in contact with Chu Yunrong for a while and knew that her condition was actually very serious. Not only did she have depression, but she also had mild schizophrenia. In the previous therapy sessions, Chu Yunrong was not very cooperative, but today she was willing to participate, and Doctor Zhou wanted to understand more to find the crux of the issue.

Chu Yunrong paused before slowly opening her mouth, "Xitong likes to cling to me and depends on me a lot, just like Qinglan when she was young. And every time I face Qinglan, just looking into her eyes makes me feel so much pain, as if my heart is being torn apart." Her expression was one of pain, and even her voice trembled as she spoke.

Doctor Zhou softly sighed; in fact, the conflict between Chu Yunrong and her daughter was not really a conflict at all. It was more about Chu Yunrong’s unresolved issues. She was deeply trapped in the past events and unwilling to move on, tormenting herself and her daughter from time to time.

But from what Doctor Zhou had learned from Shen Qian, she knew that not all of it was due to Chu Yunrong alone; after all, Chu Yunrong had been...

From the fragmented sentences of Chu Yunrong, Doctor Zhou also understood that Shen Qinglan’s heart was actually very tender. As long as Chu Yunrong was willing to let go of her issues and bravely face the past, expressing her love for her daughter, the relationship between mother and daughter would not be as distant as it was, even if not extremely close.

Doctor Zhou still spoke in a soft and slow voice, as gentle as a breeze, that seemed to reach into Chu Yunrong’s heart.

Chu Yunrong’s expression gradually relaxed, and her brows unfurled.

Doctor Zhou snapped her fingers, and Chu Yunrong slowly opened her eyes, with a momentary blankness in her gaze. It took her a while to fully come back to her senses. Looking at Doctor Zhou with a smile on her face, "Doctor Zhou, thank you."

Doctor Zhou chuckled softly, "It’s all part of my job. You haven’t been sleeping well lately, so I’ll prescribe you some medication shortly. Remember to take it as directed. Try to relax when you’re with your daughter and don’t overthink things. Remember, Shen Qinglan is your biological daughter, there’s no overnight feud between mother and daughter."

Chu Yunrong nodded.

Doctor Zhou hesitated before speaking, "If it’s possible, it would be best if you could bring your daughter with you next time. It would be very beneficial for your condition."

"No, Doctor Zhou, I don’t want my family to know about my condition, and please keep it confidential for me," Chu Yunrong immediately declined.

Doctor Zhou merely made a suggestion and did not insist when she saw Chu Yunrong was reluctant, "Of course, without your consent, I will not disclose your condition to anyone."

Chu Yunrong sat for a while longer at Doctor Zhou’s place before departing. She had always known that she was ill, and when it came to her attitudes toward her two daughters, her actions were far from those of a competent mother.

Chu Yunrong then called Shen Qian.

Shen Qian had always been aware of his wife’s issues, and over the years, her illness had never really been completely cured; she still took medication but was unwilling to see a psychologist. Her agreement to do so this time was the result of his long persuasion.

"When you get home, rest well. Worry less about the orchestra if you can, and if there’s no trouble, go see Qinglan. Hengyi is at the army base most days, and she’s alone at home. You could spend more time with her," Shen Qian said gently to his wife.

Chu Yunrong smiled and nodded.

"Furthermore, Xitong’s biological parents have been found, and it’s time you let her spend more time with them," Shen Qian added in the end.

Chu Yunrong paused, "Yes, I know. I even encouraged her today. Take care of yourself in the army and don’t worry about me," she said.

Shen Qian gave a few more instructions before hanging up the phone. The warmth that was present during the call disappeared from his face, leaving his expression indiscernible. He remembered the altercation he had with his son, massaged his forehead, and sighed silently.

Actually, it wasn’t that he wanted to keep Shen Xitong around; letting Shen Xitong leave the Shen Family wasn’t impossible, but he had to consider his wife’s feelings. Chu Yunrong had always raised Shen Xitong as her own daughter for all these years, and there was no difference between her and a biological child. Chu Yunrong always harbored guilt towards Qinglan, and if she ever found out what Shen Xitong had done to Shen Qinglan, she probably wouldn’t be able to accept it.

That’s why he had been urging Chu Yunrong to see a psychologist, hoping that, if her condition could be cured and their relationship with Qinglan eased, then even if she came to know about what Shen Xitong had done, she wouldn’t be overwhelmed by it.

Shen Qian also felt a twinge of regret deep in his heart. In retrospect, he should never have acted that way. Even if his wife truly went mad for the rest of her life, what of it? He would still love her, wouldn’t he?

His son accused him of forgetting that Shen Qinglan was his biological daughter. How could he possibly forget? She was his only daughter, the daughter he had yearned for many years to have.

Shen Xitong’s recent actions had crossed Shen Qian’s bottom line. Had he not considered his wife, he might have let Shen Xitong leave the Shen Family when the Li Family couple came knocking.

This incident wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last. Soon, just a little while longer, once Chu Yunrong’s condition improved even slightly, became a bit more lucid, things would become much easier to handle.

**

"What are you two trying to do?" Looking at the two people blocking her path, Shen Xitong felt very irritable.

Tian Cuifang looked at Shen Xitong with caution, "Thre—" She had barely started speaking when she met Shen Xitong’s icy gaze and quickly corrected herself, "Xitong, it’s still about your brother. Look at how old he is this year, yet he still doesn’t have a job. How will he ever get married? You know so many people, can’t you just find him a job?"

The young man standing next to Tian Cuifang carried a frivolous demeanor, swinging his legs as he stood, completely lacking decorum. Shen Xitong glanced at him and quickly looked away. Such a person was her biological brother, almost laughable.

Li Yong, chewing gum in his mouth, noticed Shen Xitong’s glance and felt displeased, "What’s with that look, you looking down on me? What right do you have to look down on me? If it wasn’t for others adopting you, you wouldn’t even compare to me right now."

"Don’t talk," Tian Cuifang pulled her son back, not wanting him to upset Shen Xitong. They were here to ask for help, and when seeking help, one must have the right attitude. Even if the person in front of them was their biological daughter, she didn’t feel that asking for help was a loss of face. If losing face could secure her son’s future, she would gladly throw her face on the ground and let Shen Xitong step on it.

A flattering smile appeared on her face, "Xitong, don’t take your brother’s words to heart; he’s immature. Mom knows you didn’t mean to look down on him. If Mom had any other way, she wouldn’t come to you for help. It’s just that I really don’t know anyone here, so I had no choice but to come to you."

Shen Xitong’s expression was wooden; she had heard too many such excuses recently. Whenever they came to her, it was always the same pretense: unfamiliar with the place. Ha, what a good excuse of being unfamiliar with the place.

Do I have to take care of you for life just because you’re unfamilar with the place? Do I owe you anything?

"Since you’re unfamiliar with the place, then just go back to your hometown. I’ll give you one hundred thousand yuan, you can build a house back home, and with the rest of the money, if you’re willing to work hard, you won’t starve. That’s your hometown, you should be familiar with it," Shen Xitong said coldly. If it’s about being unfamiliar, then going back would surely make things familiar.

"One hundred thousand yuan, are you trying to get rid of a beggar?" Li Yong spat at her. "What can you do with one hundred thousand yuan nowadays? You have so much money, what’s wrong with spending it on us?" In his opinion, it was only right for Shen Xitong to spend her money on them. If it wasn’t for his parents dumping her at the orphanage, she would’ve been adopted by a wealthy family; she might’ve ended up like those two sisters, sold off by a human trafficker.

This remark drew a cold glance from Shen Xitong. How could someone utter such shameless words?

"Why should I spend my hard-earned money on you? What do I owe you?"

Li Yong glared, "If it weren’t for our parents, could you live the life of a wealthy daughter? You can’t be ungrateful and forget your obligations."

Shen Xitong laughed out of sheer anger. Truly the son of that ridiculous couple, a piece of work himself. She suddenly felt grateful that they had abandoned her back then; living with such a family, she would have gone mad.

"Don’t argue, no need to argue," Tian Cuifang said with a look of urgency, "Xiao Yong, she’s your sister, you can’t talk to your sister like that." As she spoke, she signaled her son with her eyes; after all, his job relied on Xitong.

Li Yong shut up, waiting for the day he made it big to see how he would deal with Shen Xitong.

"Xitong, don’t take your brother’s words to heart, he just hasn’t been able to find the right job, and has always relied on you. He’s anxious. He said just yesterday that it’s hard on him to still be relying on his older sister at his age."

Shen Xitong sneered, "If he feels guilty, then he should go out and look for a job. As long as he wants to find one, how can a healthy grown man not be able to find a job that can support himself?"

Li Yong was very angry at her words, he clenched his fists, wanting to swing at her, but he put them down again. He still needed this woman; without her, where could he find a good job? Work on a construction site moving bricks? He couldn’t bear that kind of physical labor—it was dirty and tiring.

"The delivery industry is so well-developed now. Even if he worked as a courier, as long as he wasn’t lazy, he could make a decent amount each month."

"Carrying things up and down all day and running around outside is exhausting. I wouldn’t do that," Li Yong pouted.

"Heh, there are jobs that aren’t tiring, but with your education, could you do them?" It wasn’t that Shen Xitong looked down on him; it’s just that there wasn’t a single thing about Li Yong that impressed her.

A young man with fully functioning limbs, all he thought about was getting something for nothing, living off his parents even though he was capable of working. She even felt embarrassed to say it out loud.

"If I can’t do it, I’ll learn. You haven’t helped me find anything; how do you know I can’t do it?"

Tian Cuifang chimed in from the side, "Yeah, Xitong, Xiao Yong is really smart. If you just help him find a good job, he will definitely do well."

Shen Xitong didn’t believe a word of it, "Got it, got it, I’ll keep an eye out for him. I’ve got things to do now, I need to go."

All she wanted now was to stay far away from these people.

"Wait, we’re out of money for food. Give us some money," Li Yong stopped her.

"I just gave you a thousand the day before yesterday, and you’ve already run out?"

Li Yong was impatient, "Just a thousand yuan, what’s that enough for? There are three of us." That small amount of money was not even enough for him to buy game equipment. He held out his hand, "Hurry up, we haven’t even had breakfast."

Shen Xitong was so angry that her chest heaved slightly. She really wanted to smash her handbag into Li Yong’s face. Although this corner of the orchestra was basically empty and seldom visited, that didn’t guarantee absolute privacy. She composed her breath and took her wallet out of her bag.

Li Yong snatched the wallet away, took out all the cash inside, and counted it. "Fuck, only two thousand yuan. That’s not enough. Send it to me on Alipay, I’ll withdraw it myself."

"Just fuck off," Shen Xitong finally couldn’t help it and threw her handbag at Li Yong. Tian Cuifang, not able to watch her son get beaten, stepped forward to stop Shen Xitong, "Let’s talk this out nicely, why are you hitting him?"

Li Yong, already with a bully’s temperament, was not about to take a beating lying down. He raised his fist and threw a punch onto Shen Xitong’s shoulder, causing her to cry out in pain. It seemed he thought that wasn’t enough, and he kicked toward Shen Xitong’s shin, but the kick was not strong and at most would only result in a bruise.

Tian Cuifang was shocked, she hadn’t expected Li Yong to actually hit Shen Xitong. Seeing Shen Xitong holding onto her shoulder, tears rolling down, she quickly went over to help her, "What happened, let mom have a look."

Shen Xitong avoided her, "Stay away from me." Her gaze at Li Yong was ice-cold, "Li Yong, you dare to hit me, believe it or not, I won’t give you a single penny." The punch from earlier was not light; she felt as if her shoulder was about to shatter.

Was Li Yong afraid of her? He glared back, "Try not giving and see what happens. If you don’t, I’ll report you for not providing for your biological parents and see how the reporters write about you. Also, if you dare to hit me again, see how I’ll deal with you."

Shen Xitong’s complexion changed; she knew this guy was a troublemaker who meant business. Without further ado, she pointed directly to the main door. "Get out of here."

"Fine, we’ll leave; as if I’m so eager to come here." Li Yong pulled Tian Cuifang and left. Tian Cuifang actually didn’t want to go; she hoped to coax Shen Xitong. Shen Xitong was now their family’s cash cow. If she provoked her and cut off their financial support, what would they do? Her son’s job prospect was still up in the air. But her son insisted on leaving, so naturally, she listened to her son and, after admonishing Shen Xitong, followed her son out.

Shen Xitong held her shoulder, grimacing with a sharp intake of breath, her face growing pale. She tried moving her arm, and the pain in her shoulder was excruciating. The performance wasn’t much longer from now. If her shoulder couldn’t move, how could she continue to play the piano?

This opportunity was rare, meticulously arranged by Chu Yunrong. She absolutely couldn’t miss it. After thinking it over, she still felt uneasy and decided to head to the hospital for a checkup.

"Xitong, what happened to you? You look so pale," a colleague said upon encountering her at the entrance, looking at her with concern.

Shen Xitong forced a smile. "I wasn’t paying attention while walking and bumped into a wall. My shoulder hurts a bit, so I’m going to the hospital to have it checked out."

Seeing that her face was indeed pale, the colleague hurriedly offered, "Go quickly. Do you need me to drive you there?"

Since Shen Xitong really wasn’t in a condition to drive herself, she didn’t refuse. "Then thank you."

Her colleague was warm-hearted and chuckled, "It’s nothing, just a small matter. Let’s go."

"By the way, I heard there were two people who came to the orchestra looking for you. They are your relatives?"

The colleague asked, clearly a warm-hearted person, but also a gossip.

Shen Xitong’s expression stiffened slightly. Even though she knew her colleague meant no harm by asking, it still made her feel uncomfortable.

"They’re not relatives; just delivery people. But they got the wrong person. The package wasn’t for me."

The colleague was somewhat skeptical. Did it really take two people to deliver a package? She assumed they must be poor relatives from Shen Xitong’s family looking for a handout, so Shen Xitong was too embarrassed to say so. Every family has such relatives; she understood.

"It’s just a bit swollen. Applying some medicated oil should reduce the swelling; it’s no big deal," the doctor said after examining Shen Xitong.

Shen Xitong furrowed her brows tightly. "Doctor, if it’s not a big problem, why am I still in so much pain?" The pain was almost unbearable, and yet the doctor claimed it was nothing serious. What would it take for it to be considered serious? Would it need to leave her disabled? Wasn’t this hospital known as one of the best for orthopedics in Beijing? Was the person staring at her now really an expert in this field? Is this how an expert consults with patients?

Faced with Shen Xitong’s skeptical look, the doctor also felt helpless. He couldn’t very well say it was because she was over-delicate and pampered, with soft skin, that she felt extraordinary pain, could he?

Nevertheless, with decades of medical practice, he wasn’t going to become upset over Shen Xitong’s skepticism. He said calmly, "If you really aren’t at ease, we can take an X-ray."

"Then please write me a referral," Shen Xitong said, her smile more forced than genuine.

After the doctor wrote her a referral, and Shen Xitong took it and left, the doctor’s colleague couldn’t resist commenting, "Some people really have money to burn. It’s obvious there’s nothing wrong with her. A bit of Red Flower Oil would do the trick, yet she insists on having X-rays."

The doctor smiled. "Maybe she just needs reassurance. Let her be; it’s what she wants, and it’s not our money she’s spending."

The colleague fell silent; that was true, after all. Why bother worrying about things that don’t concern them—it’s none of their business.

"There isn’t actually any problem; the bone isn’t injured. When you go back, just rub some Red Flower Oil on for a few days, massage it vigorously to disperse the bruise, and you’ll be fine," the doctor said after looking at the X-rays.

Shen Xitong this time didn’t say much but asked, "Doctor, I’m a pianist and I have a performance next week. This performance is very important to me, I can’t afford any mishaps. My injury..."

"Don’t worry, your injury will be completely healed in a couple of days and won’t affect your performance," the doctor assured her confidently.

Only then did Shen Xitong feel relieved. She had already missed one opportunity in which she thought she could outsmart Shen Qinglan, but instead ended up with a loss. If not for that old woman dying early, she wouldn’t know how her life would be now. She had worked hard for this opportunity and no matter what, she had to seize it.

Leaving the hospital, her colleague was waiting outside for her. "Xitong, is your shoulder alright?"

Shen Xitong shook her head with a smile, "It’s fine. The doctor said it’s just a bit swollen, it’ll be better after applying some medicine for two days."

Her colleague’s face relaxed with a smile, "That’s good. You have a performance next week, you can’t afford any accidents. By the way, I haven’t seen Teacher Chu these past few days, does she have something going on?"

"Mom said she wanted me to do it on my own, to see it as training, so she’s resting at home," Shen Xitong said, her smile sweet.

The colleague obviously knew that Chu Yunrong was grooming Shen Xitong to be her successor, a hint of envy flashed in her eyes. It’s good to come from a well-off family; they always have more opportunities than others.

"Teacher Chu is really good to you," she said with envy.

Shen Xitong’s lips curled slightly, and her heart was full of joy. She liked the feeling of being envied by others.

**

Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi had been at the beach for a long time. The wind was strong by the sea, and Fu Hengyi took off his jacket and draped it over Shen Qinglan.

"I’m not cold, really," Shen Qinglan said. Her constitution was indeed strong, and such cold wind was nothing to her.

"Even if you’re not cold, keep it on. It’s not good for a girl to catch a chill," Fu Hengyi said, ignoring her refusal, tightening the jacket around her, and feeling her hands which were still icy cold.

It seemed that he would have to take her to see that old Chinese medicine doctor. It was already spring, and yet her limbs were so cold.

The two walked along the coastline, Fu Hengyi always holding her hand, occasionally saying a word or two. It wasn’t much conversation, but neither of them found it boring. As the sunset, they returned home.

That evening, they didn’t go back to the courtyard home but straight to Jiangxin Garden. However, as soon as they arrived at the entrance of Jiangxin Garden, they saw Ya Xi waiting at the gate of the community.

Shen Qinglan recognized that silhouette from afar as Ya Xi, and upon approaching, it indeed was Ya Xi. Fu Hengyi stopped the car, "Ya Xi."

Ya Xi was pacing back and forth with her arms crossed, and even though it was early spring, the night was still quite cold. Hearing someone calling her, she looked up and saw Shen Qinglan, her eyes brightening, "Big sister."

She stopped in front of Shen Qinglan, about two steps away, and just stood there quietly, not saying anything.

"Why didn’t you call me if you were looking for me?" Shen Qinglan asked.

"I did, but your phone was turned off," Ya Xi explained, her voice a bit hoarse.

Shen Qinglan took out her phone and realized it had run out of battery and shut down at some point, no wonder Ya Xi couldn’t get through.

"Let’s go inside," Shen Qinglan opened the rear door for Ya Xi, who glanced at Fu Hengyi in the driver’s seat before sitting down.

"Hello, brother-in-law," Ya Xi greeted Fu Hengyi softly. This was her big sister’s husband, so it was right for her to call him brother-in-law.

Fu Hengyi, originally slightly displeased at the sight of Ya Xi, let go of his displeasure upon hearing the term "brother-in-law," merely responding with a nonchalant hmm.

Shen Qinglan found it amusing. Fu Hengyi was definitely not difficult to get along with on ordinary days, as evidenced by his attitude towards Xiao Xuan and Fang Tong. His abnormal state today was probably because of Yan Shengyu, with Ya Xi being the unwitting target of his displaced annoyance. Quite the jealous one, he was.

"Have you eaten yet?" Once they were home, Shen Qinglan asked Ya Xi, who shook her head. Shen Qinglan looked at Fu Hengyi, who went into the kitchen. In truth, he and Shen Qinglan hadn’t eaten dinner either, so it was just a matter of making food for one more person. Considering the polite "brother-in-law" he received, he decided not to fuss about the small matter of Ya Xi wanting to take his wife as her sister-in-law.

In the living room, Ya Xi sat on the couch while Shen Qinglan observed her, "If you didn’t come to find me, why aren’t you speaking?"

Ya Xi glanced at the kitchen. "He can’t hear," Shen Qinglan said.

Ya Xi seemed a bit embarrassed, "Big sister, can I stay here for a while?" She asked tentatively.

Shen Qinglan paused, "What happened?" She had known something must have occurred the moment she saw Ya Xi, as Ya Xi was someone who couldn’t hide her emotions, every bit of them written all over her face.

Ya Xi looked down, her gaze on the floor, "Big sister, I just want to stay here a few days. It’s okay if it’s inconvenient for you, I can go to a hotel."

"Why don’t you want to go home?" Shen Qinglan asked.

Ya Xi was silent.

Shen Qinglan stopped inquiring, "Let’s eat first. After dinner, I’ll take you to another place of mine where my friend lives. She’s a girl—would you be okay staying with her for a while?"

Ya Xi’s eyes lit up, and she quickly nodded, "I can do that."

"Qinglan, dinner’s ready."

Fu Hengyi brought out two bowls of noodles from the kitchen: they were zhajiangmian, Beijing-style noodles with soybean paste. It was getting late, and there weren’t many ingredients at home, so Fu Hengyi didn’t cook any dishes. Zhajiangmian was naturally the most convenient choice.

He set down the bowls and went back into the kitchen. When he came back, he carried an additional bowl, larger than the other two, which was his own. He handed chopsticks to Ya Xi, who took them with a quiet "Thank you."

Ya Xi tasted a mouthful and her eyes gleamed while she quickened her eating pace. She hadn’t had high hopes for Fu Hengyi’s cooking skills as both men in her family couldn’t cook, and she assumed Fu Hengyi was the same. But his skills turned out to be excellent.

As Ya Xi devoured her noodles, she took glimpses at the man in front of her. He was just a bit better-looking than her own brother, having a very distinct mature and steadied charm compared to her brother’s sunny-boy demeanor. There was no comparison in that regard, but what set him apart was his cooking; it was deliciously good.

After her comparisons, Ya Xi instantly understood why Shen Qinglan chose Fu Hengyi over her own brother. She suspected she might make the same choice herself.

Thinking like that, Ya Xi still felt a trace of sympathy for her brother, realizing that snatching her big sister from such a man was no small feat.

"Cough cough cough cough..." Ya Xi suddenly started coughing violently. Shen Qinglan looked at her helplessly and handed her a glass of water, "What are you thinking about? You’re not even focusing on eating."

Ya Xi, having gone into a daze from her thoughts, didn’t realize she had started choking. Her face turned bright red, even her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Shen Qinglan asked, concerned. Fu Hengyi glanced over, noticing Qinglan seemed especially caring towards this little girl.

Ya Xi waved her hand, waiting until she had calmed down a bit before taking a sip of water, "I’m fine, big sister. I just choked a little."

After the meal, Shen Qinglan stood up to clean the dishes, out of consideration for Fu Hengyi, so as to save him some face in front of a guest. However, Fu Hengyi simply picked up the dishes and left.

"Big sister, your brother-in-law is really good to you," said Ya Xi with a touch of envy. She couldn’t help but think of her own parents. She used to believe her parents were very much in love, but now she realized it was all a facade, their interactions never truly those of a loving couple.

Her eyes darkened as her recently uplifted mood fell again.

Knowing she didn’t want to talk about it, Shen Qinglan changed the subject, "Wait here for me, I’ll take you to my place later."

Ya Xi nodded obediently, sitting patiently on the sofa waiting for Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan entered the kitchen, informing Fu Hengyi. He only later found out that she owned another apartment at Shangya Garden, and upon learning that she intended to take Ya Xi there, he didn’t have much to say. He just reminded her, "Be careful driving. I’ll wait for you to come back." Towards the end, his gaze lingered subtly on a certain part of her, deep and enigmatic.

Shen Qinglan felt the warmth of his gaze, her cheeks heating up as she remembered what he had said by the seaside earlier in the afternoon. She nodded, took the car keys, and left.

Fu Hengyi smiled and continued washing the dishes.

"What does it feel like to like someone?" Ya Xi asked quietly, looking out the window, as they drove.

Shen Qinglan, driving, did not look at her, "Do you have a boy that you like? Your family doesn’t approve, so you ran away from home?" she guessed.

"That’s not it at all, I didn’t run away from home because of a guy," Ya Xi objected, without denying that she had indeed run away.

"Then what for?"

Ya Xi fell silent for a moment, then spoke, "Big sister, do you remember that illegitimate daughter of my dad that I told you about?"

"I remember," Qing Mu; how could she forget.

"Her mother came back and met with my dad. I don’t know what she said to him, but my dad actually wants to divorce my mom... and, and I saw with my own eyes, my dad hitting my mom." Tears welled up in Ya Xi’s eyes, "This is the first time I’ve ever seen my dad hit someone in my life. He came over from Nancheng; I thought he was coming to see me and mom, but as soon as he entered, he slapped my mom, really hard. I saw blood on the corner of my mom’s mouth."

Shen Qinglan’s expression turned icy at the story, feeling a surge of dislike for the Yan Anbang she had never met. Ever since she knew this man was Qing Mu’s biological father, Shen Qinglan had taken a disliking to him. Hearing now that he had hit a woman, it became even harder to think well of him.

"My mom didn’t even say anything, and he just demanded a divorce, very adamantly."

"What’s the reason?" Shen Qinglan asked. Since they wanted a divorce, there must be a reason, right?

Ya Xi shook her head, her expression sad, "I don’t know. They were locked in the study and had a big fight. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but it seemed to be related to my missing illegitimate sister. After that, my father left, and before he did, he told my mother to return to Nancheng as soon as possible to go through the divorce procedures, or else he would file a lawsuit."

Shen Qinglan’s eyes darkened. It had something to do with Qin Mu—could it be Qin Mu’s disappearance that was involved? She remembered asking Qin Mu once why she’d ended up in the hands of human traffickers. How had Qin Mu answered her at the time?

"Xiaoqi, the most frightening thing in this world is the human heart. Remember, don’t easily trust others, and don’t rely excessively on others, not even me. You can’t trust me either."

Shen Qinglan recalled the sadness in Qin Mu’s eyes when she said those words, and with some of her previous suspicions, the chill in her eyes grew deeper.

After she took Ya Xi to Shangya Garden and before leaving, Shen Qinglan couldn’t help but admonish, "Stay here for the next few days. Don’t run around. You’re a girl; don’t just run away from home carelessly. If something happens, it will be too late for regrets."

Ya Xi always heeded Shen Qinglan’s words. Upon hearing this, she obediently nodded.

"If you need anything, you can call me. If you can’t find me, you can look for Enxi; she will help you." Shen Qinglan said, glancing at Jin Enxi, who responded with a knowing look.

Ya Xi nodded, watching Shen Qinglan leave, and then turned to stare blankly at Jin Enxi. Jin Enxi actually knew Ya Xi well since she had been investigating Qin Mu’s disappearance all those years ago. She was aware of Qinglan’s suspicions but hadn’t found any clues following that lead.

"Sister Enxi, I’m going to sleep now." Being unfamiliar with each other, Ya Xi didn’t know how to interact with Jin Enxi, so she opted to sleep. Jin Enxi smiled and waved her hand, "Go ahead, getting more sleep is good for a girl’s skin."

Shen Qinglan had just reached the ground floor when she received a call from Yan Shengyu, "Shen, has my sister come to you?" As soon as the call connected, Yan Shengyu asked, his voice unable to hide his urgency.

He had looked everywhere possible, but he hadn’t found Ya Xi, and now that it was dark, it was far too dangerous for a girl to be out alone. How could he not be anxious? At the same time, he silently blamed Ya Xi for her waywardness—this wasn’t the first time she had run away from home.

"She’s with me, she’s alright," Shen Qinglan replied calmly. "She seemed to be in a bad mood, so I let her stay with me for a couple of days. If you’re worried, you can come and pick her up."

Honestly, even if Yan Shengyu hadn’t called her, she would have still informed him.

"No need, let her stay there for a few days. I will come and pick her up after some time. Thanks for your help," Yan Shengyu let out a sigh of relief. It was good as long as she was safe.

After hanging up the phone, Shen Qinglan went upstairs, walked into the bedroom, and found that Fu Hengyi was indeed already lying in bed waiting for her, dressed in pajamas and browsing through her collection of paintings.

Seeing Shen Qinglan return, he placed the album on the bedside table. Staring at her unblinkingly, the warmth in his eyes was something even a blind man could interpret.

Shen Qinglan felt her cheeks heat under his gaze and said, "I’m going to take a shower," before diving into the bathroom. Fu Hengyi chuckled, waiting for her to call him.

Sure enough, after a few minutes, Shen Qinglan’s voice came through, "Fu Hengyi, can you pass me my pajamas?" She had forgotten to bring them, only remembering when she was covered in suds.

"Alright, just a moment," Fu Hengyi got out of bed and walked over to the wardrobe. He took out a black nightgown from the bottom drawer. He glanced at the thin fabric in his hand, smiled, and then approached the bathroom door, "Open the door."

Shen Qinglan cracked open the door slightly, extending her fair wrist. Fu Hengyi placed the nightgown in her hand and returned to the bed, the corners of his mouth curving in clear good humor.