The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 208. Chu Yunrong Hospitalized (First Update)

Chapter 208: 208. Chu Yunrong Hospitalized (First Update)

Tian Cuifang’s legs were also trembling as she watched the fresh blood continually flowing. Alarmed, she did not forget to comfort her son, "It won’t happen, nothing will happen to her, and nothing will happen to you. Even if the police really come, it was all mom’s doing, it has nothing to do with you."

In the end, Li Datou gathered his courage and stepped forward to check Shen Xitong’s breath and found that she was still breathing. He collapsed to the ground, "She’s still alive, quickly, make a call."

Li Yong was the first to react, knowing that she wasn’t dead, he felt a rush of relief, "Mom, she’s not dead, I won’t have to go to prison."

Tian Cuifang also breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that if a life had been lost, the three of them would have been doomed.

Jin Enxi immediately learned of Shen Xitong’s admission to the hospital, reportedly covered in blood, seemingly a suicide. Who could blame her when these past few days Shen Xitong was a major focus of media journalists? She didn’t have the good fortune of Shen Qinglan, who had people to handle the press on her behalf.

"Heh," Jin Enxi sneered. Shen Xitong, of all people, committing suicide? She didn’t believe it for a second. "But why would she suddenly end up in the hospital? It can’t be a publicity stunt, can it?"

Jin Enxi couldn’t help but wonder, this scandal had just broken out, and now she’s in the hospital, could it be a sympathy play?

Cissily was chewing gum, "Who cares whether it is or not, given the dirt on her now, it’s not going to be easy for her to clear her name." It wouldn’t be surprising if this trip to the hospital made people suspect ulterior motives.

Having a deep understanding of the power of a journalist’s pen as a world-renowned model living under their scrutiny, Cissily knew how influential they could be.

And, believe it or not, Cissily was right. As soon as the news came out, a wave of denunciations flooded the internet, most branding Shen Xitong as hypocritical, heartless, and cruel, even capable of harming herself.

Shen Xitong was still unconscious due to excessive blood loss, and it would take some time before she could wake up, thus she was unaware of the deepening malice towards her online.

There were even haters who disguised themselves and threw tomatoes and lettuce at Shen Xitong at the hospital.

In the hospital room, Tian Cuifang stayed by Shen Xitong’s side. Now that they knew Shen Xitong was alright, Li Datou and Li Yong returned home, rummaging through every nook and cranny for the property deed, but despite searching the entire house, they found nothing.

"Dad, I can’t find it," Li Yong sprawled on the couch, exhausted. That dead woman Shen Xitong really hid her things well; he couldn’t find them, but he did find some valuable jewelry that could be sold for quite a sum of money.

Li Datou smoked restlessly, "Wait till she wakes up and ask her properly. Also, talk to that girl, tell her to wait a few days. We’ll definitely get you a house to get married."

Previously, Li Datou wasn’t lying when he said Li Yong had impregnated a girl. Indeed, there was such a matter. The girl had said if he wanted the child, he had to buy a house and marry her, otherwise, she would terminate the pregnancy and they could go their separate ways.

Li Datou was getting older, like many elderly people, he dreamed of enjoying his days surrounded by his grandchildren. Li Yong was his only son, so he absolutely could not let his first grandchild be lost, and besides, the girl was beautiful, sure to have beautiful children.

Rarely would a girl be willing to marry his son, and Li Datou would not give up on that.

Li Yong, however, did not care about the child in the girl’s womb; he was in love with the person. As for marriage, if he could avoid it, he really did not want to marry.

"Got it. Dad, I’m going out." Li Yong, with a few pieces of jewelry he’d scavenged from Shen Xitong, was eager to turn them into cash.

Li Datou waved his hand, still thinking about how to get the house from Shen Xitong.

**

Shen Qinglan watched the development of events unfold with a slight curve at the corners of her mouth. She hadn’t expected things to go much smoother than she had initially anticipated. Picking up her phone, she dialed Jin Enxi.

"An, have you returned?"

"No, were the video and recording online posted by you?" Shen Qinglan asked, her tone firm.

Jin Enxi chuckled, "An, you really know me well. But the person who pushed things forward wasn’t me, ha. Besides uploading the video and recording, I did nothing else."

Shen Qinglan knew it was for her sake, so naturally, she wouldn’t say anything but instead brought up another matter, "Has that woman appeared again?"

Jin Enxi realized whom she was referring to and her expression slightly darkened. She exchanged a glance with Cissiley, "No, she seems to have disappeared from Beijing after that incident, but An, I feel very uneasy."

Cissiley also toned down the giggles on her face; this matter was a shadow looming over their hearts. As long as they weren’t sure if that person was still alive, they couldn’t truly relax.

"That woman, regardless of her connection with that person, since his target is me, will surely appear. We don’t need to be overly anxious; what is meant to come will always come," Shen Qinglan calmly stated.

"What is meant to come will always come?" Fu Hengyi entered the room just in time to hear this. He casually asked, and Shen Qinglan ended the call, smiling, "You’re back early today?"

"There’s a night assessment later, I came back early to let you know."

"Okay." Shen Qinglan nodded. She never interfered or inquired about Fu Hengyi’s work. Fu Hengyi looked at her, "Nothing you want to tell me?"

Shen Qinglan appeared confused, "What?"

Fu Hengyi smiled lightly, "Your heroic act has been the talk of half the military region."

With that, Shen Qinglan knew what he was referring to. Three days ago, Zhao Wei had challenged her. She had said in three days’ time. Today, after having lunch in the cafeteria, just as she walked out, Zhao Wei blocked her at the cafeteria entrance.

Zhao Wei still wore an expressionless face as he looked at Shen Qinglan and spoke solemnly, "You said three days. Today is the third day."

Today, Sister-in-law Zhang shared lunch with Shen Qinglan while Fu Hengyi was away. Sister-in-law Zhang, caught off guard, whispered into Shen Qinglan’s ear, "Who is he? What three days?"

Shen Qinglan hadn’t forgotten the agreement with Zhao Wei, but hadn’t expected him to be so eager. Gu Yang and Gu Kai followed him. Seeing Shen Qinglan, they ran over, "Little sister-in-law, this guy is asking for it. Be sure to beat him hard."

Chastened by Shen Qinglan’s words last time, Gu Yang had reflected deeply, along with what Fu Hengyi had said earlier, making him feel that surely he had been somewhat slack. So, lately, Gu Yang had become determined to improve. Normally, he would be practicing with Gu Kai, but today, expecting a spectacle, he couldn’t help but follow.

"Little Sister-in-law." Gu Kai called out. Shen Qinglan glanced at him, noticed the bruises on his face weren’t severe, contradicting the ’beaten to a pulp’ description from Gu Yang’s mouth. With a smirk that was not quite a smile, she swept her gaze over Gu Yang. Gu Yang chuckled dryly; well, perhaps he exaggerated a bit, but certainly not by much.

"Are you looking for a sparring match?" Shen Qinglan used the term "sparring."

Zhao Wei nodded, "You were the one who said it." Over these three days, he had found out that Shen Qinglan was Fu Hengyi’s wife, but his determination to confront Shen Qinglan remained unchanged.

"Now?"

Zhao Wei continued nodding.

What a martial arts fanatic, Shen Qinglan couldn’t help but laugh. She glanced around and pointed to the playground not far away. "Let’s go there." It was lunchtime, and there weren’t many people on the playground, plus there was ample space to move freely.

However, what Shen Qinglan hadn’t expected was the large number of people interested in watching the excitement. A large crowd followed behind, along with others who had heard the news and hurried over.

"Sister-in-law, are you going to spar with him?" Sister-in-law Zhang asked worriedly, following beside Shen Qinglan, looking at the very burly man ahead and asking softly.

Shen Qinglan nodded, "Yes, I promised him earlier, and I need to keep my word."

Sister-in-law Zhang glanced at Shen Qinglan’s slender figure, then at Zhao Wei, with increasing concern in her eyes, "Sis, maybe you shouldn’t. The military is full of rough men who don’t know how to hold back."

"Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I’m confident," Shen Qinglan assured her.

Gu Yang, walking by their side, heard this and smiled, "This sister-in-law can rest easy. My little sister-in-law is very formidable; she can take on five of him alone."

Sister-in-law Zhang neither agreed nor disagreed with Gu Yang’s words, but she felt Shen Qinglan was overestimating herself. Knowing that Shen Qinglan was from the Shen Family, she likely had some skills, but this was a military setting after all, and there were plenty of skilled people here. The fact that this man challenged a woman so recklessly showed his reckless nature.

Although there was no distinction between male and female in the military context, Shen Qinglan wasn’t a soldier, she was just a family member.

When they reached the playground, Shen Qinglan looked at the crowd of spectators and couldn’t help feeling a bit annoyed; she had chosen this spot because there were supposed to be fewer people at this time.

Zhao Wei didn’t care how many people were watching. "Can we start now?"

"Yes." Shen Qinglan stood in the middle of the playground, her stance seemingly casual, but any expert could tell at a glance that her seemingly casual stance had no flaws; she was completely ready for combat.

Those who had come just to watch the excitement quickly realized this point, their eyes glowing with a sudden change, looking at Shen Qinglan with both scrutiny and intrigue.

Zhao Wei’s expression also turned serious. He clenched his fists and took the most direct approach, attacking Shen Qinglan’s face. She subtly shifted her body to dodge his attack, quickly grabbing his wrist with one hand, while her other fist struck hard into Zhao Wei’s abdomen.

Zhao Wei involuntarily stepped back two paces, coughing lightly a few times. Shen Qinglan’s hit was heavy, making him feel like his internal organs had shifted.

But Zhao Wei’s eyes were shining brighter, watching Shen Qinglan excitedly. There weren’t many who could overpower him in a single exchange, and none of them included a seemingly delicate woman like Shen Qinglan.

That kid Gu Yang really hadn’t lied to him; this woman was strong.

Zhao Wei clenched his fist and charged at Shen Qinglan again; this time, however, he targeted her shoulder rather than her face. If this punch landed, it could easily break her shoulder.

Everyone thought Shen Qinglan would dodge, but she stood still, not moving at all.

"Sister be careful!" Gu Yang exclaimed, his hands clenched into fists, hanging by his sides, fearing for Shen Qinglan’s safety.

Shen Qinglan stretched out her hand and grabbed Zhao Wei’s fist. Despite her slender palm, it brimmed with astonishing strength, making it impossible for Zhao Wei to advance even slightly.

Shen Qinglan clutched Zhao Wei’s fist, yanked it in one fluid motion, and executed a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw. Zhao Wei found himself lying on the ground, and the loud thud made even the spectating crowd wince in pain. This woman was incredibly fierce.

Everyone’s perception of Shen Qinglan shifted dramatically. She was no delicate damsel but seemed even tougher than the domineering female soldiers next door.

"Want to go again?" Shen Qinglan asked indifferently.

Zhao Wei sprang up from the ground, his face alive with excitement, "Again."

The crowd was speechless. It was clearly a one-sided torment, yet this man was getting more energized by the beating. Indeed, the logic of a madman was beyond the comprehension of a sane person.

Shen Qinglan didn’t seem to mind, she shrugged her shoulders, her eyes hardened, and for the first time, she initiated the attack. Her delicate hand formed into a fist, aiming directly for Zhao Wei’s face. Zhao Wei instinctively moved to block, only to see the fist swerve mid-way towards his abdomen.

Here it came again. Zhao Wei gritted his teeth—he still felt like his organs were displaced from the previous punch. Naturally, he couldn’t just stand there and take the hit this time. He quickly retreated as they exchanged more than a dozen moves swiftly. Shen Qinglan saw her chance and swept Zhao Wei off his feet with a clean, efficient kick, causing him to lie on the ground again with a cry of agony.

"Want to go again?" Shen Qinglan looked down at him, her face expressionless and cool.

Zhao Wei got up, grinding his teeth, "Again."

Unbeknownst to them, more and more spectators gathered around, attracting some military officers. Initially, they intended to stop the mass assembly, but upon seeing the situation, they stopped themselves and joined the onlookers.

Zhao Wei continued to be dominated by Shen Qinglan, but everyone could tell that she wasn’t using her full strength. Even in the fight with Zhao Wei, it seemed more like she was merely practicing.

Some officers recognized Shen Qinglan, as she had been frequently seen in the military canteen lately with Fu Hengyi, and many knew of her identity.

"I didn’t expect Captain Fu himself to be so formidable, and so is his wife," a young man remarked admiringly.

"A woman like this could only be handled by Captain Fu," another soldier whispered to his comrade. With such formidable skills, if marital disputes were to escalate into physical confrontations, the man would undoubtedly be the domestic abuse victim.

Gu Yang and Gu Kai watched Shen Qinglan as she dominated Zhao Wei, feeling both excited and proud, especially Gu Kai, who looked at Shen Qinglan with the eyes of an adoring fan.

While some were softly discussing, the ordeal at the center came to an end. Zhao Wei was seen lying on the ground, clutching his chest and coughing violently. The final kick had hurt him quite badly, and he had not recovered yet. His head was drenched in sweat, and he was drained of all his strength.

In contrast, Shen Qinglan was clean and fresh, and her breath hadn’t even hitched.

"Shall we continue?" Shen Qinglan asked once again.

Zhao Wei really wanted to continue, but he couldn’t stand up anymore. He was exhausted, yet his eyes were glowing as he looked at Shen Qinglan as if she was a treasure, "Today, I lost."

Zhao Wei struggled to rise from the ground, aware that Shen Qinglan hadn’t given her all. He guessed that if this woman had used her full power, he might not have been able to withstand even one move.

"Can I come to you for a sparring match in the future?" A thrilled expression finally broke through Zhao Wei’s stoic face as he looked at Shen Qinglan with eager anticipation.

Everyone was speechless. Were they addicted to seeking pain?

"I don’t have time, and I will be leaving here soon," Shen Qinglan stated the facts. She was not a soldier here; her visit was only to see Fu Hengyi, and naturally, she wouldn’t stay long.

Zhao Wei was quite regretful. Although he was constantly overpowered by Shen Qinglan, it was very thrilling. Her moves were merciless yet measured, and from her, Zhao Wei discovered many of his own weaknesses, which excited him the most.

"Thank you for today," Zhao Wei sincerely thanked.

A hint of a smile flashed in Shen Qinglan’s eyes. This person seemed quite smart. She did indeed have a motive to instruct him today, mainly because Zhao Wei’s stubbornness reminded her of someone else. Unfortunately, that person...

Thinking of that person brought a touch of sadness to Shen Qinglan’s eyes.

"Sister-in-law, I didn’t expect you to be so formidable," Sister-in-law Zhang had yet to recover from the shock of Shen Qinglan single-handedly overpowering a robust man over six feet tall.

Shen Qinglan slightly curved her lips, "When I was at home, Grandpa taught me some self-defense for a while." She used Old Sir Shen as an excuse.

Sister-in-law Zhang marveled, "Hengyi is so lucky to have married such an outstanding wife as you."

Shen Qinglan felt slightly awkward; she didn’t know how to respond to such praise.

Meanwhile, the news of Zhao Wei challenging Shen Qinglan and getting overwhelmingly defeated spread quickly throughout the military camp, and naturally, Fu Hengyi found out, which led to his question when he returned.

Shen Qinglan realized what he was referring to and quietly defended herself, "He came looking for me first." She didn’t mention that Gu Yang had caused the trouble.

But if she didn’t say it, would Fu Hengyi not know? His heart sneered, delaying settling scores with Gu Yang for later.

"I know, but has your body recovered yet?" Fu Hengyi was slightly worried, remembering that her menstrual cycle hadn’t ended yet.

"It doesn’t affect me," Shen Qinglan explained, such matters were trivial for her.

"You should still be cautious. If those people bother you again, let me know, and I will teach them what fighting really is," Fu Hengyi said nonchalantly.

Shen Qinglan smiled faintly, "Don’t mix personal grievances with official matters."

Fu Hengyi smiled and stayed silent. He changed his clothes and then left. He had been very busy lately; finding the time to see Shen Qinglan was squeezed into his schedule.

After Fu Hengyi left, the door was knocked on again. Shen Qinglan went to open it and saw Gu Yang and Gu Kai standing outside.

Shen Qinglan raised an eyebrow, "What’s the matter?"

Gu Yang chuckled, "Little sister-in-law, may we come in and sit for a while?"

Shen Qinglan stepped aside, allowing the brothers to enter and sit on the sofa. She looked at them, "Tell me, what do you need?"

"Hehe, little sister-in-law, how did you know we came for you and not for big brother?"

That wasn’t hard to guess; if they were looking for Fu Hengyi, it wouldn’t have been at this time.

"Little sister-in-law, we want to ask you to teach us fighting," Gu Kai got straight to the point.

Shen Qinglan raised her eyebrows.

Gu Kai continued, "Gu Yang and I are really poor at combat skills, so we’d like to ask for your guidance."

"Right, little sister-in-law, as you know, grandpa has high expectations for us. If our results aren’t good in six months, we won’t have the freedom to choose whether to stay or leave."

"I remember you have a combat instructor, and both of you were personally trained by grandpa," Shen Qinglan spoke indifferently. Gu Yang had been strictly disciplined by Old Sir Fu for a while when he was young. Gu Kai and Gu Yang were inseparable, and Old Sir Fu treated Gu Kai as his own grandson, disciplining Gu Yang while not neglecting Gu Kai.

Gu Yang laughed awkwardly; while his skills were better than average, they paled in comparison to the experienced soldiers in the military. He was severely lacking in real combat experience.

"Getting beaten a few more times will build experience," Shen Qinglan remarked casually, causing Gu Yang’s face to stiffen as he remembered Zhao Wei’s woeful state after the beating in the afternoon.

"Little sister-in-law, is there no other way?"

"This is the fastest method."

Gu Yang immediately looked dejected, like an eggplant beaten by frost.

"Little sister-in-law, even so, I still hope you can teach us to fight," Gu Kai said earnestly. He truly admired Shen Qinglan, not only for her fighting skills but also for her driving skills, especially the latter.

Regardless, Shen Qinglan ultimately refused. Her combat skills were not really suitable for the military; what she had learned was meant for killing. Today’s sparring with Zhao Wei was controlled on purpose; otherwise, Zhao Wei’s injuries would have been more than just skin-deep.

Gu Yang and Gu Kai were very disappointed, but they thought it was because Shen Qinglan wouldn’t be staying long.

Shen Qinglan walked into the bedroom and opened her computer, her eyes cold as she read the comments online about Shen Xitong.

Meanwhile, the Shen family was in turmoil. The recorded audio that had been leaked also existed in Shen Junyu’s possession. He was surprised when he first saw the recording because it was still in his hands. So, who released the same recording online?

Old Sir Shen hadn’t expected such a development and was so angry when he heard about it that he smashed the cup in his hand. Although the old man had a fierce temper in his youth, he had mellowed with age and seldom lost his temper. Shen Junyu hadn’t seen his grandfather this angry in many years.

"Grandpa, don’t be angry, take care of your health. If something happens to you, Lanlan would blame herself."

Old Sir Shen took several deep breaths to calm down and instructed, "Announce publicly that the Shen family is severing ties with Shen Xitong. Shen Xitong will no longer be part of the Shen family, and her affairs have nothing to do with us. I will not allow someone who has hurt my granddaughter to get away with it in this house."

"But, dad, isn’t this too harsh? The internet is already attacking Xi... Shen Xitong. If we issue such a statement now, won’t it be seen as kicking someone while they’re down, and make us appear unforgiving to outsiders?" Chu Yunrong spoke softly.

Old Sir Shen furiously glared at Chu Yunrong, "I am being unforgiving? Did Shen Xitong show any mercy? The Shen family took her in and raised her, and how did she repay us? Lanlan is my granddaughter from the Shen family, what has she done to Lanlan? Yun Rong, you like Shen Xitong and are biased towards her, but there should be limits. She is now hurting your own biological daughter, the daughter you’ve neglected for over a decade."

Chu Yunrong had been married to Shen Qian for so many years, and Old Sir Shen had never shown any displeasure to his daughter-in-law, let alone scolding her so harshly, causing Chu Yunrong’s face to turn pale.

"Father, that’s not what I meant. I’m not saying that what Shen Xitong did was right, I just don’t want outsiders to think our Shen Family is heartless."

Old Sir Shen’s expression was very cold, "Heartless? The thing I regret most now is that I agreed to let Shen Qian adopt Shen Xitong!"

Originally, Shen Qian adopted Shen Xitong because of Chu Yunrong’s illness, but it now seemed this was the biggest mistake. In his view, not only had Chu Yunrong’s illness not improved, but it had become even more severe.

"Yun Rong, I don’t want you to interfere in this matter." Before going upstairs, Old Sir Shen glanced at Chu Yunrong, who looked terribly pale and had a vacant gaze.

"Mom." Shen Junyu felt heartache seeing Chu Yunrong like this. He had inadvertently seen her taking medication one day and had secretly taken a few pills to a doctor for consultation. The doctor told him that the medication was for treating depression and mild schizophrenia.

It was then that Shen Junyu realized his mother’s illness had never improved, and indeed, it had worsened.

It was as if Chu Yunrong hadn’t heard Shen Junyu’s voice; she was lost in her own world, with images of Shen Qinglan and Shen Xitong occupying her mind. Her complexion grew paler and paler until, finally, she clutched her chest and collapsed on the sofa.

"Mom." Shen Junyu panicked, picked up Chu Yunrong, and ran outside, with Old Sir Shen hearing the commotion and coming out of his room, only to see Shen Junyu’s frantic figure.

"What happened to Yun Rong?" Old Sir Shen asked Sister-in-law Song, who emerged from the kitchen looking just as bewildered. She also didn’t know what had happened.

When Shen Qinglan received a call from Old Sir Shen while she was having dinner with Fu Hengyi, her expression instantly changed, and she stood up, "Grandpa, I’ll be right back."

Fu Hengyi looked at her, frowning, "What happened?"

"My mom is hospitalized, she suddenly fell into a coma."

Fu Hengyi could not care less about eating and stood up, calling out to Shen Qinglan, "Wait, I’ll go with you."

"Is it all right for you to leave now?" Shen Qinglan asked, concerned.

"I’ll make a phone call." Fu Hengyi went to make a call, and Shen Qinglan waited by the door. Soon after, Fu Hengyi came back, holding Shen Qinglan’s coat, "Let’s go."

The car arrived at the entrance of the Military Region and met Shen Qian, who was also going back, so they went together.

At the hospital, Shen Qinglan found Chu Yunrong’s ward as Old Sir Shen had directed, but Chu Yunrong had not yet awakened. Only Shen Junyu and Old Sir Shen were in the room.

Shen Junyu sat on the sofa, head bowed, his expression indescribable. Seeing Shen Qinglan, he forced a small smile, "Lanlan, you’ve come."

"Brother, Grandpa, what exactly happened? How could Mom suddenly faint like this?"

Hearing this, Shen Junyu’s expression darkened, and Old Sir Shen sighed deeply, "It’s all my fault. I spoke too harshly. If it weren’t for me, Yun Rong would not have..."

"Grandpa, this is not your fault." Shen Junyu interjected, cutting off Old Sir Shen’s words.

Shen Qian’s brow was furrowed tightly, and he had been silent since entering the ward.

"Father, you knew all along, didn’t you?" Shen Junyu’s gaze was fixed on Shen Qian, his voice deep, "My mother’s illness has never improved. She has always been taking medication. You knew about this, didn’t you?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s expressions changed except for Shen Qian, especially Old Sir Shen, who looked utterly shocked.

"I saw mom taking medication earlier, and while she wasn’t paying attention, I secretly took some to the hospital for identification. The doctor said those drugs were for treating depression and schizophrenia," Shen Junyu said word by word, his eyes accusing Shen Qian as he spoke.

Quietly observing his wife lying unconscious on the bed, Shen Qian looked at her with pity and heartache. Yun Rong, it seems you were never able to keep it hidden.

"Yes, your mother’s illness has never gotten better. Since the second year of adopting Shen Xitong, her condition emerged, but she forbade me from telling you all. She has been bearing it all alone." Even he had once considered retiring to take care of his wife, but Chu Yunrong refused, claiming that as long as Qinglan was not back, she would not commit suicide. She promised to live well and wait for her daughter to return to find her.

But eventually, when Shen Qinglan did return, Chu Yunrong’s illness worsened. At times, when Shen Qian saw his wife engulfed in agony, he felt heartbroken yet powerless.

"Father, do you realize what you’ve been doing? With such a disease, family support and encouragement are most crucial. But do you understand how much she has had to endure because of your secrecy?" Shen Junyu was furious, his eyes blazing with anger, far from his usual gentle demeanor.

"Shen Qian, you were wrong in this matter." Old Sir Shen spoke heavily. He was very dissatisfied with the approach Shen Qian and Chu Yunrong had taken. If they had known Chu Yunrong’s true condition earlier, perhaps it wouldn’t have become so severe. Maybe it would have already healed.

Old Sir Shen also regretted the harsh words he had spoken earlier today. If he had not provoked Chu Yunrong, perhaps she would still be well.

Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi stood aside without saying anything. She watched the pale-faced woman on the bed and suddenly remembered herself as a small child clinging to her mother, like a little tail.

"Yun Rong was... actually a good mother," Shen Qian said, looking at his wife with tender eyes. "Actually, the person who made the wrong decision was me." Yet the consequences were all borne by Chu Yunrong alone.

"Qinglan, your mother has always felt a deep guilt regarding the incident of losing you," Shen Qian said gently to Shen Qinglan, "She had been waiting for you to return, and when you didn’t, she fell into severe depression. She even attempted suicide once, and if not discovered in time, your mother might have successively died. Even since then, her spirits have been low. There were days when she wouldn’t speak at all. I consulted many doctors for her, and finally, we decided to follow a doctor’s advice to adopt Shen Xitong as a comfort for her. Hypnosis was performed on her, suggesting that Shen Xitong was you, her biological daughter, and that slowly she started to get better."

Everyone but Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi knew this past. Shen Junyu and Old Sir Shen recalled those days full of sorrow when Chu Yunrong had frantically searched for Shen Qinglan just after she had gone missing, searching relentlessly as long as she was awake. However, no matter how they searched, Shen Qinglan was never found. As days passed, Chu Yunrong grew thinner and haggard until only skin and bones were left. Then one day, Shen Qian came home to find that Chu Yunrong had attempted suicide.

Although she was saved, her condition was ruined, and her mental state collapsed. Shen Qian sought multiple psychologists for Chu Yunrong’s treatment, and finally, they reluctantly decided to adopt a child.

A year later, Chu Yunrong suddenly became lucid, realizing that Shen Xitong was not her own daughter and that her own daughter was still lost. Her mental state nearly collapsed again, and Shen Qian had no choice but to take Chu Yunrong away to live for some time before seeking further medical treatment for her.

Because Chu Yunrong did not want the family to know, Shen Qian kept it tightly hidden until Chu Yunrong could live normally again before returning to the large courtyard to live with everyone. Meanwhile, it was precisely Shen Qian’s rising period in his career. To care for Chu Yunrong’s illness, he gave up a significant promotion opportunity; otherwise, Shen Qian’s position might have been even higher by now.

"Actually, your mother carries a heavy pain inside, especially since you returned. We lost you for ten years and searched for ten years. But in those ten years, so much had changed, and when we met again, it was as though everything and everyone was different. We didn’t even know how to interact with you anymore. I am a failed father, as I did not fulfill a father’s responsibilities. But your mother did not fail; she has always loved you. Perhaps because of the repeated hypnosis, she subconsciously believes Shen Xitong is her biological daughter, whom she carried and gave birth to. But when she’s lucid, she remembers you are the daughter she forgot, and this torment has made her illness even worse, not better. Recently, she started seeing a psychologist and undergoing psychological therapy again, all to recover sooner and fulfill her duties as a mother. Qinglan, if there is still blame in your heart for your mother, please forgive her. The person who has caused all these situations is actually me, a failing father."

In the hospital room, Shen Qinglan quietly looked at Chu Yunrong’s serene face. Her eyes were tightly closed, appearing just as if she were sleeping. In her mind, she recalled the last words Shen Qian had said before leaving.

The doctor said that Chu Yunrong’s continuous unconscious state was not due to a physical reason but because she had shut down her own heart and refused to awaken. As long as she was unwilling to wake up, she would keep sleeping continuously.

Shen Junyu and the others had already left, and even Fu Hengyi had left with them, at the request of Shen Qinglan. Now, only Chu Yunrong and Shen Qinglan were left in the hospital room. At Shen Qinglan’s feet lay a box made of huanghuali wood, which had just been delivered by Shen Qian from home, claiming it belonged to her.