The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 209. Driven Out of the Shen Family (Second Update)

Chapter 209: 209. Driven Out of the Shen Family (Second Update)

Shen Qinglan scrutinized Chu Yunrong for the first time with such intensity. Ever since she returned to the Shen Family, it seemed she had never really gotten along with Chu Yunrong. Her mother’s gaze always harbored deep fear, and a sense of being at a loss.

She wanted to be kind to her daughter, but didn’t know how to proceed. In the end, could only be helpless? Shen Qinglan couldn’t tell.

In her hand, she held a small key, resting in the palm of her hand. She picked up the box and opened it. When she saw what was inside, her expression went blank.

Many long-forgotten memories suddenly surged back to life at the sight of those things. She picked up the Barbie doll dressed in a blue dress.

"Mommy, do I look pretty in this dress?" The little girl sat on a stool, letting her mother comb her hair behind her, all the while glancing at her new dress, and then asking her mother.

Her mother laughed tenderly, gently steadying her daughter’s head to keep her from moving and getting hurt, "You look beautiful, Qinglan. You’re the prettiest child in the world and look good in everything."

"Will Brother Fu like it too?" The little girl tilted her head, staring out with big, black eyes.

"He’ll like it. But your Brother Fu isn’t home right now; he’s gone abroad and won’t be back until the New Year."

"When is the New Year?"

"It’s March now; he won’t be back until it snows."

"Then I’ll go play with Xiao Pang in my dress; he said I didn’t look pretty the other day."

Her mother laughed and nodded, "Okay, Mommy will take you to school in a while. Xiao Pang will definitely say you’re pretty. Today, Mommy will tie a bow in your hair." Saying this, she picked up a blue bow hair clip from the side and placed it on the little girl’s head. The butterfly’s wings moved, and when the little girl shook her head, the butterfly’s wings fluttered up and down.

Shen Qinglan put down the Barbie doll and picked up the photo album from the bottom. In truth, she had already forgotten what she looked like as a child. Though there was an album at Granny Shen’s, Shen Qinglan rarely looked through it.

Turning the pages one by one, Shen Qinglan studied them attentively. Her expression remained cool, but the emotions at the bottom of her eyes were complex. She couldn’t empathize with Chu Yunrong’s feelings; by the time she was trying to find herself, she was already training at Devil Base.

Memories of the Shen Family faded gradually from the young Shen Qinglan’s mind. What she remembered were events after she had been abducted.

She remembered the fear while with the human trafficker, the despair of losing hope while waiting, and the fright when she saw a little girl being maimed.

She remembered the sound of the whip cracking against her skin and the searing pain; the suffocation when she was pushed into the water, despite not knowing how to swim, nearly drowning; the warmth of blood on her skin, and the cold rain in the jungle.

When she needed a mother’s love and care, Chu Yunrong wasn’t by her side. By the time she found herself, she was already past the age of needing a mother’s love.

The photo album awakened her dormant memories; looking at Chu Yunrong, her eyes were tinged with a faint sadness.

"Does this mean there was always a bit of fate missing between us, causing us to miss each other repeatedly?" Shen Qinglan whispered softly as if murmuring, soon dissipating in the air.

Holding Chu Yunrong’s hand, her hand was as cold as her own, with slender fingers and thin calluses at the tips. In spite of being over fifty, her skin was still tight and delicate. These were the hands of a pianist.

Shen Qinglan’s gaze paused on Chu Yunrong’s left wrist, where there was a faint scar that seemed like a knife wound, almost imperceptible unless looked at closely. Remembering what Shen Qian had said about Chu Yunrong’s suicide attempt, her heart soured.

"Mommy." Shen Qinglan spoke softly, calling out to Chu Yunrong by her ear, for the first time since she had returned to the Shen family.

"Dad, is it really okay to leave Lanlan alone?" In the Shen Family home, Shen Junyu was very concerned about Shen Qinglan, who was alone in the hospital.

"Jun Yu, Qinglan is an adult; she’s grown up. She’s much stronger than we think," Shen Qian said.

Shen Junyu fell silent. Of course, he knew, but still... He looked at Shen Qian, "Dad, why did you decide to hide it from us, to begin with, and now choose to tell us?"

If you’ve hidden it for over a decade, why not continue to hide it?

Shen Qian looked pained, "Because I don’t want your mother to be misunderstood anymore. I also hope your mother can recover soon. Jun Yu, your mother has had a hard time these years. Outsiders envy her life; she has a husband who loves her always, successful children. But who would know that such an enviable wealthy lady has been a long-term mental patient who needs medication to stabilize her condition?"

"You shouldn’t have hidden it from the start," Old Sir Shen said disapprovingly, looking at his son. He and Granny Shen had often criticized Chu Yunrong in the past for favoring Shen Xitong. Thinking back, he realized that not everything was her fault.

"I mishandled this situation," Shen Qian admitted outright.

"Let’s set aside Yun Rong’s issue for now, how do you see Shen Xitong’s matter?" Old Sir Shen told Shen Qian about today’s decision and then asked.

Shen Qian glanced at the silent Fu Hengyi, pondered for a few seconds, and then spoke, "Dad, since Shen Xitong has already moved out, let’s hold off on this matter for now. Qinglan is now a public figure, and her reputation is very important. Shen Xitong did something wrong, which is why public opinion is currently in our favor, but if we issue a statement now, it will seem like we’re kicking someone when they’re down. Qinglan is also a member of the Shen Family; the public backlash would turn against her."

Old Sir Shen took these words to heart. Since it was about Qinglan, Old Sir Shen naturally considered it carefully. After some thought, he nodded, "In that case, let’s hold off on this matter. But the girl’s parents have already come to us, and to avoid accusations that we are unwilling to let go of their daughter, find some time to take Shen Xitong to change her surname."

"Okay." Shen Qian had no objections to this.

Fu Hengyi had been silent, just checking the time. As it was nearing dinner time, he stood up, "Grandfather, Dad, I’m going to bring Qinglan something to eat."

Shen Qian nodded, "I’ll go with you later, and then you and Qinglan can come back."

"Dad, let me go. I can stay with Mom," Shen Junyu said as he wiped his face.

Shen Qian waved his hand, he had been very busy recently and had rarely spoken with Chu Yunrong. Now that he was back, he might as well spend quality time with her.

When Fu Hengyi and Shen Qian arrived at the hospital, Shen Qinglan was still sitting in the ward. She looked at Chu Yunrong, seemingly lost in thought.

"Qinglan, come to eat," Fu Hengyi called out. Shen Qinglan stood up, went to eat, and Shen Qian sat down beside the hospital bed, looking at his wife and sighed deeply.

Yun Rong, did I do everything wrong from the start?

Shen Qinglan ate quietly, Fu Hengyi sat beside her, watching her. After she finished, she followed him home. But while waiting for the elevator, she realized she had forgotten her bag in the ward. Fu Hengyi went to fetch her bag, and Shen Qinglan waited for him, not expecting to run into Shen Xitong.

Shen Xitong hadn’t expected to run into her just by getting some water, "Why are you here?"

Shen Qinglan glanced at her. Her forehead was wrapped in gauze, and there were bruises on her face—had she been beaten?

Seeing Shen Qinglan examine her, Shen Xitong remembered her current disheveled state, "What are you looking at, Shen Qinglan? Now that I’ve been kicked out of the Shen Family, are you happy? You finally got what you wanted, and you can gloat now."

Shen Qinglan looked at her, puzzled. Sometimes she really couldn’t understand this person’s thought process. Whether she was in the Shen Family or not, whether glorious or downcast, in Shen Qinglan’s eyes, she was all the same—a mere stranger. As long as Shen Xitong didn’t cross her bottom line, Shen Qinglan could even tolerate her prancing around in front of her forever.

Unfortunately, Shen Xitong just didn’t understand this, "Shen Qinglan, I know you were behind the stuff on the internet. Even though I don’t have proof, I know it must be you, and I won’t just let it slide."

This was a high-class ward, not crowded; their conversation did not attract anyone else’s attention.

"Shen Xitong, you now look like a rabid dog biting randomly," Shen Qinglan uttered indifferently. Her words, however, turned Shen Xitong pale.

"Shen Qinglan." Shen Xitong gritted her teeth.

Shen Qinglan stepped forward; Shen Xitong instinctively stepped back, her fear of Shen Qinglan had not dissipated since the last time.

"Shen Xitong, people need to learn their lessons. If you can’t learn, I can continue to teach you until you do," Shen Qinglan’s voice was cold.

Shen Xitong’s body shuddered, "What do you want to do?"

Shen Qinglan slightly curled her lips, "You’ll find out." The fall from grace is not over yet; everything you want, I will slowly take away from you, letting you know not to covet what is not yours.

"Shen Qinglan." Shen Xitong wanted to stop her, to get some clarity; her last words left her uneasy. But upon seeing another familiar figure, she turned swiftly and hurried away.

She did not want Fu Hengyi to see her in such a disheveled state.

"Let’s go." Fu Hengyi had seen Shen Xitong, but merely glanced at her before looking away, uninterested in why she was here.

"Fu Hengyi, do you think I’m too cold-hearted?" On the way home, Shen Qinglan suddenly asked.