The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 22. Xitong’s Schemes Exposed, Shen Xitong’s Embarrassment (Part 1)

Chapter 22: 22. Xitong’s Schemes Exposed, Shen Xitong’s Embarrassment (Part 1)

Editor: Larbre Studio

Shen Xitong was discharged from the hospital, but with the saying "a hundred days to heal from a bone injury," the cast on her foot hadn’t been removed. After she came back home, the house became much more lively.

"Qinglan, your sister has been discharged. Because of you, she missed that performance and is now feeling very low. Mom hopes you can yield to her more and not upset her again," Chu Yunrong pulled Shen Qinglan aside and advised her.

Shen Qinglan looked at Chu Yunrong with a calm gaze, making Chu Yunrong feel a bit uncomfortable. She turned her head, unwilling to meet her daughter’s eyes.

"If others don’t provoke me, I won’t provoke them," Shen Qinglan said, then walked away without even glancing at Chu Yunrong.

"Grandma, I’ve been in the hospital for a month and couldn’t visit you. I’m really sorry," Shen Xitong sat in a wheelchair in Granny Shen’s room.

Granny Shen glanced at Shen Xitong’s foot, wrapped in a cast, unable to tell how the injury was. "How’s your foot?"

Shen Xitong smiled shyly, "The doctor said I’m recovering well. I can get the cast off in half a month, and as long as I’m careful afterward and don’t get hurt again, it should be fine."

"That’s good. I’ll have Sister-in-law Song make you some bone broth tonight. Drink more of it," Granny Shen said lovingly. She had always been kind to the younger generation.

"Thank you, Grandma. But..." Shen Xitong looked at Granny Shen, hesitating to speak.

"What is it?"

"Grandma, I know because of my situation, Mom has been blaming Shen Qing. I explained to Mom that it wasn’t Qinglan’s fault; it was my own carelessness. I advised Mom many times not to blame Shen Qing. After all, I indeed took away the affection Mom had for Qinglan, and it’s natural for Qinglan to resent me. Grandma, could you explain this to Mom and ask her not to blame Qinglan anymore?"

Shen Xitong spoke sincerely, her eyes downcast with a sorrowful expression, not noticing the smile gradually disappearing from Granny Shen’s face.

"Xitong, you came to our home when you were nine, right?" Granny Shen didn’t respond to Shen Xitong’s request, but instead, seemingly casually, asked.

Shen Xitong’s heart tightened. She looked up in confusion, meeting Granny Shen’s loving gaze, and steadied herself, "Yes, I still remember when I first came to this family. Grandma, you bought me lots of new clothes."

"At that time, your mother was devastated because Qinglan was missing. Your daddy adopted you from the orphanage for your mother’s sake. Actually, both your grandfather and I were opposed to it, but your daddy insisted. Later, we saw you were indeed well-behaved, so we accepted it."

Shen Xitong bit her lower lip, "Grandma, I..."

Granny Shen waved her hand, indicating Shen Xitong shouldn’t speak. "All along, both your daddy and your mom have treated you as their own daughter. They’ve even publicly claimed you as a daughter of the Shen family. Over these years, we don’t consider we’ve treated you unfairly, have we?"

Shen Xitong lowered her gaze and nodded, "Yes, everyone in the family has been very good to me. I really love this family."

"After Qinglan returned, I’ll admit, your grandfather and I did favor Qinglan. After all, she’s our biological granddaughter, and we’ve owed her so many years. But your daddy has always treated both of you equally, not to mention your mom; she’s biased toward you, neglecting Qinglan. Anyone with eyes in this family can see that."

"I know, and I have advised Mom to treat Qinglan better, but Mom..." Shen Xitong said somewhat aggrieved.

"Let’s not talk about your mom’s issues for now. In this room, it’s just the two of us left. Tell me the truth: did Qinglan really push you down the stairs?"

Shen Xitong looked up, meeting Granny Shen’s gaze that seemed to see through everything. In a flash, her eyes betrayed her panic. "No, I was careless..."

"Don’t try to deceive me with your excuses. I’ve lived over eighty years; what storms haven’t I faced? Do you think I can’t see through your little schemes? I’ve already asked Sister-in-law Song. During those days, rumors were circulating in Beijing that the Fu Family intended for Qinglan to become their granddaughter-in-law, while you liked Hengyi, didn’t you?"

Shen Xitong hadn’t expected her hidden thoughts to be seen through by Granny Shen and spoken aloud. She couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, "Grandma, I didn’t!"

"Whether you did or didn’t, I’m telling you here today, don’t entertain improper thoughts. If you like Fu Hengyi, you can compete openly; Grandma won’t say a word against it. But if you set your mind against Qinglan, I’m afraid the Shen Family won’t tolerate you anymore."

Shen Xitong was shocked, looking at Granny Shen in disbelief, hurriedly explaining, "Grandma, I really didn’t."

"Xitong, Grandma knows you’re smart, but don’t assume everyone else is a fool. Your mom’s heart is biased in your favor, so she believes whatever you say, but it’s different with us. We know Qinglan’s temperament better than you do. If she really harbored jealousy because your mom favored you, I would actually be pleased. At least then, she treats herself as part of the Shen Family."

"About what happened that day, whether you deliberately fell or it was accidental, I can consider it an accident. But if I hear again that Qinglan is jealous of you, it won’t be resolved so easily. Your mom might stand by you, but she doesn’t have the final say in this family. Even if I die, there’s still your grandfather." Granny Shen’s words were harsh and left no room for Shen Xitong’s pride.

In the past, perhaps she wouldn’t have acted like this, but now, her days were numbered, and the time she could protect Shen Qinglan was getting shorter. She couldn’t do otherwise.

Though usually kind and loving, she had endured life’s storms alongside Old Sir Shen. She had seen and endured it all and could be ruthless when needed. Shen Xitong’s tricks didn’t stand a chance against her; a few words left Shen Xitong with a heavy heart.

Shen Xitong was in a sorry state. Since coming to the Shen Family, no one had ever spoken so harshly to her, leading her to forget she was only the Shen Family’s adopted daughter, with no blood ties to the family. They could elevate her as easily as they could trample her. This was the first time she realized she didn’t have the capital to be willful in this family. Her only reliance was on Chu Yunrong’s affection, but ultimately, Chu Yunrong wasn’t her biological mother. How long this affection could last, who could say?

Lost in despair, she left Granny Shen’s room, only to run into Shen Qinglan, who was planning to visit Granny Shen. Seeing Shen Qinglan’s indifferent demeanor, Shen Xitong bit her lower lip, leaving deep indentations.