The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 222. Catch them all in one fell swoop, uninvited guests (first update)

Chapter 222: 222. Catch them all in one fell swoop, uninvited guests (first update)

"Waah, I want to go home, I want my mom, I want to go home." A girl cried out, and with her cry, the other children also started crying.

Qinglan looked at the group of crying children, her face a mask of helplessness, standing still, she turned towards Fu Hengyi in a helpless manner. Fu Hengyi took Qinglan out, and the accompanying police went in, picking up the children one by one. The last one to be carried out was Doudou, still unconscious.

"Mr. Fu, we do not yet know the situation with these children. We need to take them back first, then try to contact their families," said the chief of the police from the neighboring province.

"We know who this child’s parents are, can you hand him over to us?" Qinglan asked, pointing to Doudou.

The police chief, who was already aware that it was this young woman in front of him who had helped them crack this major child abduction case, was naturally very polite to Qinglan, "Of course, we can do that, but we need to register him first."

"This child might have been given some drugs; he still hasn’t woken up. Let’s take him to the hospital for a check-up first," Qinglan suggested.

The police chief nodded in agreement.

Fu Hengyi and Qinglan followed at the back. Before leaving, Qinglan’s gaze lingered in the room where the children had been kept before finally leaving with Fu Hengyi.

The rest wasn’t much of their concern. After taking the child to the hospital for a check-up, it was found that he had only been given some sleeping pills and would be fine by tomorrow. Qinglan was relieved and asked the police to call the child’s parents.

Qinglan and Fu Hengyi didn’t leave, waiting until the child’s parents arrived. That’s when Qinglan noticed the young mother’s face bore the imprint of a slap, and her eyes were somewhat swollen. Her gaze rested on the child’s father for a second, her eyes cold.

"Thank you, we really can’t thank you enough for today," the young mother said, holding her child tightly, bowing repeatedly to the police.

The police pointed in the direction of Fu Hengyi and Qinglan and said something. The young mother walked over to them and bowed deeply at ninety degrees, saying, "Thank you for helping me find my son, thank you."

Qinglan stepped forward and helped her up, "I accept your thanks. It’s late now; hurry and take your child home."

The young mother had recognized Qinglan as the girl who had helped her at the amusement park; her gratitude deepened.

"Remember to keep an eye on your child when you go out, and stop playing with your phone. There are some grievances one can bear, but others cannot be tolerated. If you don’t love yourself, then why should others cherish you?" Before leaving, Qinglan whispered in the woman’s ear, her voice meant only for the woman to hear.

The woman was stunned, tears suddenly streaming down her face. She pressed her cheek tightly against her child’s body and cried silently.

On the way back, Fu Hengyi was driving; Qinglan remained silent throughout the journey. Fu Hengyi glanced at her, "What’s wrong, did seeing those children today upset you?"

Shen Qinglan nodded, "Fu Hengyi, do you know? I was kidnapped just like that when I was little. A man covered my mouth with a handkerchief, and I passed out. When I woke up, I was in a dark room with lots of children who had all been snatched by human traffickers. After waking up, I was very scared. I cried and wanted my mom and dad to come save me, but they never did..."

Shen Qinglan recounted her experience of being kidnapped. Her tone was very calm, as if she was talking about someone else’s story, but her eyes hid a deep sadness. The car had stopped by the roadside at some point, and Fu Hengyi unbuckled his seatbelt to hold her in his arms, "All that is in the past, don’t think about it."

Shen Qinglan buried her head in Fu Hengyi’s embrace, her voice muffled, "Fu Hengyi, I am not a good person, I once..." was an assassin. The last four words were drowned in the sudden kiss from Fu Hengyi.

His kiss was gentle and comforting, calming Shen Qinglan’s agitated heart that evening. Fu Hengyi let her go and looked into her eyes, "I don’t care what you’ve been through or who you were. All I know is that you’re my wife now, and you will always be my only wife."

Shen Qinglan stared steadily at him, her eyes slightly trembling, "Fu Hengyi, what if my past is in opposition to your military duties?"

Fu Hengyi’s heart trembled slightly, and he sighed silently inside, looking into her eyes that hid fear, "Qinglan, that was just your past, a life you couldn’t choose. I’ve always known how kind and tender-hearted you are at your core. Qinglan, trust me, and trust yourself too."

Tears silently slid down her face, and Fu Hengyi’s eyes flashed with distress. He gently wiped away the tears on her face. This was the second time he had seen her cry; the first time was in the rainforest. He could vaguely guess Shen Qinglan’s past identity, but what he didn’t tell her was that as a special forces soldier, his hands weren’t as clean as she might think.

He had his beliefs and his responsibilities, but those beliefs and responsibilities were never in conflict with his love for her and his desire to protect her. Perhaps some might call him selfish, but if a man couldn’t even protect the woman he loves, then how could he talk about protecting others or defending the country?

"Qinglan, don’t cry. Seeing your tears hurts me," Fu Hengyi said softly, his rough fingertips brushing her cheek, bringing a ticklish sensation.

Shen Qinglan looked at Fu Hengyi intently, "Fu Hengyi, thank you." How grateful I am to have met you.

Fu Hengyi chuckled, "Silly, I’m your husband, the one who is supposed to spend a lifetime with you. You never have to thank me."

Shen Qinglan’s mouth lifted slightly, and she exchanged smiles with Fu Hengyi.

"Does this watch on my wrist have any special features?" Fu Hengyi raised his wrist, showing the watch to Shen Qinglan.

"Your watch has a small tracker. It is paired with the watch on my wrist. As long as I turn on the switch, we can sense each other’s presence within a certain range," Shen Qinglan explained, without any intention of hiding.

"How far is a ’certain range’?"

"Within two hundred meters it can pinpoint accurately, within one thousand meters it can only give a rough estimate, and beyond one thousand meters it basically loses its function. Its main feature is that it can avoid detection by scanners, making it very secure, so the range is quite limited." In fact, a two hundred meter range did seem somewhat trivial.

"How did you get this? Is it made by the same friend who made the tracking device?"

Shen Qinglan nodded, "She really likes studying these things and often makes all sorts of oddities. I wasn’t trying to track you, it’s just that..."

Fu Hengyi chuckled lightly, "I know, I’ll always carry it with me."

Shen Qinglan gave him a deep look, not saying a word, but her eyes were brimming with smile.

The next day, the news and newspapers didn’t report the news about the child trafficking. It wasn’t until a week later that the story was covered. Following the clues provided by those people, the police successfully decimated the trafficking ring’s nest, arresting over a hundred suspects and rescuing more than fifty trafficked children. Many who had been sold were now being sought based on the testimony of the suspects.

When the news broke out, it shocked the entire country. The report even praised Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi’s act of rescue but did not mention their names or appearances.

Old Sir Shen didn’t associate the news with his granddaughter until he received a personal call from the Minister of Public Security expressing gratitude. That’s when he became aware of it.

So, when Shen Qinglan returned to the Shen Family for dinner, Old Sir Shen called her into the study, "Grandpa, what’s wrong?" Seeing the old man just sizing her up without speaking, Shen Qinglan asked softly.

"Are you hurt?" Old Sir Shen asked gently.

Shen Qinglan didn’t react at first. When Old Sir Shen mentioned the news, she immediately understood and shook her head, "Grandpa, I’m fine. I was just in charge of tracking them."

"You, always rushing into danger, have you forgotten your own safety?" Old Sir Shen reprimanded her, but his tone was devoid of any censure.

"Grandpa, didn’t you teach me how to defend myself? Are you still not confident in me?" Shen Qinglan spoke mildly.

Old Sir Shen gave a helpless smile, advising, "Next time, you mustn’t be so impulsive, understand?"

"What, Shen Qinglan, you took risks again?" Shen Junyu, who came up to call them for dinner, overheared and instantly exploded.

"What are you yelling for?" Old Sir Shen reprimanded sternly, "Careful, or your mom will hear."

Mindful that Chu Yunrong, who was finally showing signs of improvement from her psychological treatment, couldn’t afford shocks, no one knew what might happen if she were upset.

Shen Junyu quieted down, but his eyes still burned as he looked at Shen Qinglan, "Shen Qinglan, do you even realize who those people are? They’re human traffickers, ruthless people. You confronted them head-on; didn’t you think about your own safety? What did I tell you last time? Have my words gone in one ear and out the other?"

"Brother, Fu Hengyi was with me, I didn’t even have to fight them," Shen Qinglan explained.

Shen Junyu scrutinized her suspiciously, "Really?"

"Really," Shen Qinglan affirmed, omitting the fact that she raced on the streets. It didn’t cause an issue since the traffic police didn’t make a fuss about it. Although some videos had circulated online, they had been suppressed since the events that led to the chase were justifiable.

Shen Junyu felt relieved, trusting Fu Hengyi’s abilities, knowing that dealing with a few traffickers was a piece of cake for him.

"That’s good then. Remember, next time leave such dangerous tasks to Fu Hengyi. He’s a man," Shen Junyu stated as if it was obvious, forgetting completely that Fu Hengyi was a brother he had grown up with.

"Grandpa, the day after tomorrow is Granny’s death anniversary, I’d like to visit her," Shen Qinglan said softly.

Old Sir Shen and Shen Junyu’s expressions changed slightly, but Old Sir Shen nodded, "Hmm, go ahead. Grandpa will go with you."

Since Li Xitong had left the orchestra, Chu Yunrong, who planned to rest at home, became busy again. Early the next day, she flew abroad. Thus, only Shen Junyu, Shen Qinglan, and Old Sir Shen attended Granny Shen’s memorial service.

Granny Shen’s tomb was located in a cemetery south of Beijing, near mountains and waters, with excellent feng shui. Her gravestone was halfway up the hill and overlooked a small field of flowers at the foot of the mountain, offering a stunning view. The tombstone was frequently cleaned and was spotless.

Shen Qinglan held a bouquet of gardenias, which she had bought after visiting numerous flower shops across Beijing. She placed the fresh flowers in front of Granny Shen’s grave, and looking at the benevolent smile of the elderly woman on the tombstone, she briefly lost herself in a trance.

"Granny, I’m here to see you," Shen Qinglan said softly, a faint smile on her lips.

Shen Junyu and Old Sir Shen stood beside her, silent throughout. After Shen Qinglan spoke, they too remained quiet.

"You two go on down first. I want to talk to your Granny alone," Old Sir Shen said as he looked at his wife’s tombstone.

Shen Junyu and Shen Qinglan exchanged glances and silently descended the mountain.

Old Sir Shen sat down in front of Granny Shen’s tombstone, carefully wiping it with his sleeve, "Old lady, I’ve come to see you. How have you been there? Something’s happened at home recently. Li Xitong is gone and has nothing to do with our Shen Family anymore..."

Old Sir Shen murmured about recent events, his eyes filled with profound longing, "Old lady, Lan Lan is doing well and is happy now. You don’t need to worry about her anymore. Her relationship with Yun Rong is much better, and Yun Rong is becoming more and more like a mother."

The wind blew, bringing down a leaf that landed precisely on Granny Shen’s tombstone. Old Sir Shen picked it up, "Old lady, ever since you left, I haven’t had anyone to talk to."

**

Shen Qinglan and Shen Junyu waited at the foot of the mountain for Old Sir Shen, who was in good health and had no problem walking down the mountain, so the siblings weren’t worried.

"Brother, how are things going with Sister Xiyao?" Shen Qinglan asked.

Shen Junyu looked at her with a smile, "Since when did you start concerning yourself with my affairs?"

"Can’t ask?" Qinglan raised an eyebrow.

"I get along well with her." Shen Junyu smiled as he thought of Wen Xiyao, a smile flickering in his eyes, "She is quite a remarkable woman."

"So, you like her?" Qinglan looked at Shen Junyu with a hint of inquiry in her gaze, and Shen Junyu patted her on the head, unable to suppress a chuckle, "Would I be dating her if I didn’t like her?"

"I thought you might like Fang Tong." After all, Shen Junyu had shown a bit of a different attitude towards Fang Tong initially.

Shen Junyu looked at her wordlessly, "She is your friend, and I have always treated her like a sister. If there’s something different, it’s probably just that I’m fond of her by association."

Qinglan nodded noncommittally, assuming that to be the truth.

"By the way, how has Fang Tong been doing at the company recently?"

"Not bad, she’s very diligent with her work. Some rumors about her and me circulated in the company a while ago, which affected her negatively, but she didn’t give up. It actually showed some of her strengths. She is capable, but still needs some refining."

Shen Junyu didn’t intend to keep anything from Qinglan and shared the details about Fang Tong’s performance at the company, "She’s just not decisive enough when it comes to relationships. I heard her boyfriend cheated on her?"

"You’re keeping up with gossip like that?" Qinglan teased him.

Shen Junyu shot her an annoyed glance, "I only pay attention to her because of someone."

"You should treat Fang Tong based on her work performance alone, you don’t need to consider me." Qinglan spoke indifferently, advocating for neither excessive help for Yu Xiaoxuan nor Fang Tong, as she believed people should choose their own paths in life.

Shen Junyu nodded in understanding, "You are one of the company’s major shareholders; are you really going to wash your hands of it completely?"

"I can transfer all my shares to you, or when you and Sister Xiyao get married, I can give my shares to her as my wedding gift to you both." Qinglan spoke softly.

Shen Junyu was resigned, knowing others crave power while his sister was the opposite, he shook his head, "I get it, you’re just lazy."

Just then, Old Sir Shen returned from the mountain, and the conversation stopped as an unexpected visitor had arrived at the Shen Family’s doorstep.

"Whose car is that?" Shen Junyu eyed the unfamiliar vehicle parked outside the house with curiosity.

"A guest has arrived at the house." Qinglan said, stepping out of the car and going into the house with Old Sir Shen.

The door was opened by Sister-in-law Song, "Sister-in-law Song, do we have a visitor?"

"Yes..." Sister-in-law Song glanced at Old Sir Shen and hesitated, "Old Sir Shen, you’ll know once you go inside."

Qinglan looked suspiciously at Sister-in-law Song, knowing she was not a person who beat around the bush, but her words seemed faltering today. Following Old Sir Shen into the house, when they saw the person in the living room, the smile on Old Sir Shen’s face vanished instantly.

"What are you doing here?" Old Sir Shen bellowed in anger, a man typically mild-mannered and rarely seen in such a rage, prompting Qinglan to turn her attention to the person in the living room.

Seated in the living room were two men and a woman, seemingly a family of three. The middle-aged man had features that resembled her father’s. Recollecting what she knew about the Shen Family’s past, Qinglan began to suspect the man’s identity.

"Father." The middle-aged man spoke, confirming Qinglan’s suspicion.

"Don’t call me father, I am not your father. Get out of here now." Old Sir Shen pointed to the door, his chest heaving violently, and Qinglan hurriedly stepped forward, "Grandpa, don’t get agitated, the doctor said you shouldn’t get upset."

Old Sir Shen had been diagnosed with high blood pressure a few days ago and was advised by the doctor to avoid extreme emotions. Shen Junyu, upon entering, immediately heard Old Sir Shen’s angry shout and quickened his pace, but was initially puzzled until the man addressed Old Sir Shen as father. Shen Junyu suddenly remembered that this man was his Second Uncle, Shen Rang, who had left the Shen Family many years ago.

Shen Rang had left the Shen Family before Qinglan was born, and even Shen Junyu had only hazy memories of him from a young age.

"Father, I just wanted to come back and see how you and mother are doing," Shen Rang said helplessly, feeling most guilty for his long absence from his parents.

Old Sir Shen’s breathing, just having calmed down, became rapid again at Shen Rang’s words, "Your mother has been dead for a long time. What have you come home to see? Her ashes?"

Shen Rang looked at Old Sir Shen in disbelief, while the woman, who had been uneasy ever since Old Sir Shen entered the room, grew increasingly alarmed. It was for her that Shen Rang had left the Shen Family and not returned for over two decades. Hearing Old Sir Shen’s words shocked her.

"What are you saying, Father? Are you saying my mother is dead?" Shen Rang’s voice trembled.

Old Sir Shen looked at him with a cold indifference.

"Father, tell me what happened to my mother?" Shen Rang couldn’t believe it, as his mother had always been healthy; she couldn’t just be gone.

But he had forgotten that he had been away from the Shen Family for over twenty years, and the vicissitudes of life over that time couldn’t be judged by initial impressions.

Old Sir Shen pointed at the main entrance, "Shen Rang, you’ve stopped being part of the Shen Family long ago. The affairs of the Shen Family have nothing to do with you. Take your wife and children and get out now."

"Daddy, even if I am not a member of the Shen Family, I am still my mother’s son. Can you tell me where she is, so I can go and see her?" Shen Rang pleaded.

Old Sir Shen looked at him coldly without speaking, but his intent was clear.

"Second Uncle," Shen Junyu spoke up, "Grandpa has been in very poor health lately. You all should leave first."

"Who told you to call him Second Uncle? He is not your Second Uncle," Old Sir Shen cut off Shen Junyu’s words.

"Seriously, what’s with this old man? My dad brought us back to see you. It should be enough for you that we’re here. What’s with all the fuss now?" The young man who had not spoken until now finally did, but as soon as he did, the expressions of the others in the room changed.

The woman on the couch looked embarrassed; Old Sir Shen’s face turned livid. "Very well, Shen Rang, what an excellent son you’ve raised. Truly, exemplary upbringing."

The woman tugged at the young man, "Quickly apologize to your grandfather."

The young man’s face was stubborn. "He just said it himself, my dad is not his son, so naturally, he is not my grandfather. Besides, I didn’t say anything wrong. Why should I apologize?"

"Shen Junze, apologize," Shen Rang’s face darkened as he commanded.

Faced with his father’s anger, Shen Junze reluctantly muttered an insincere apology to Old Sir Shen, while Shen Qinglan’s gaze grew slightly chill.

"Dad, don’t be angry. Jun Ze has been spoiled by us since he was young and doesn’t know how to weigh his words. Please don’t take it to heart," the woman said, her face full of eagerness to please.

"The beam is crooked and the frame is askew," Old Sir Shen commented without even glancing her way. If it weren’t for this woman, his most outstanding son would not have left home and stayed away all these years, missing even the last glance of his own mother in her death.

"Dad," Shen Rang called out but said nothing more. From the moment he decided to return, he had anticipated such a scenario. The only thing he hadn’t expected was his mother’s death.

"Lanlan, Grandpa is tired. Help him go upstairs to rest," Old Sir Shen said.

Shen Qinglan stepped forward and helped the old man up the stairs, casting one last glance at Shen Rang and his family before leaving.

Before returning to the Shen Family, she had investigated the family’s background and naturally knew she had a Second Uncle. However, the information indicated that this Second Uncle had broken ties with the Shen Family over a woman more than twenty years ago, leaving and fading into silence ever since.

"Grandpa, are you okay?" Shen Qinglan asked worriedly, seeing Old Sir Shen’s rather pale face.

Old Sir Shen waved his hand, "Bring your grandpa his medicine from over there."

Shen Qinglan went over, picked up the medicine and noticed it was the blood pressure medication the old man had been taking lately. She poured out two pills, "Here you go, Grandpa."

After taking his medicine, Old Sir Shen sat for a while, and his complexion eased. "Alright, Grandpa is fine now. Don’t worry, I was just too agitated earlier."

Seeing the worried look on Shen Qinglan’s face, Old Sir Shen’s smile softened.

"Grandpa, you rest now. I’ll go downstairs and have a look."

Old Sir Shen nodded and lay down on the bed.

Downstairs, Shen Rang and his family had not left. Shen Junyu was keeping them company. "So you are Jun Yu, it has been so many years, and you’ve grown so much," Shen Rang looked at Shen Junyu in front of him, full of feelings.

Shen Junyu cracked a slight smile, "Second Uncle, you don’t seem to have changed much either."

Shen Rang shook his head, "What do you mean, not much? I’ve grown old as well, even my hair’s turned white," a glance at Shen Junyu, then he hesitated to speak.

"Second Uncle, you wanted to ask about Granny Shen, didn’t you?" Shen Junyu took the initiative.

Shen Rang nodded, "Your grandmother, she..."

"Granny passed away last August, late-stage gastric cancer," Shen Junyu said.

Shen Rang was deeply shocked, "How could this happen, why didn’t I receive any news?"

"Have you ever cared about the Shen Family’s news?" Shen Qinglan’s distinct voice came from the direction of the staircase, and soon after, her slender figure appeared in the living room, her gaze sweeping over Shen Rang and his family.

Shen Rang’s face paled, his eyes hollow; he did not even hear Shen Qinglan’s words. It was Shen Junze, on the other hand, whose eyes held discontent as they turned to Shen Qinglan, "And who are you? This is our Shen Family’s business. What right do you have to stick your nose in it!" He thought Shen Qinglan was Shen Junyu’s girlfriend or wife.

Shen Qinglan laughed, a very beautiful smile that carried a chill within it, "I am Shen Qian’s daughter; now tell me, who here is really the outsider?"

"Oh, so you’re the youngest daughter from my uncle’s house. My dad is your Second Uncle; is this how you speak to an elder? Do you even know how to respect others?"

Shen Junyu’s face darkened, but before he could speak, the woman quickly grabbed Shen Junze and gave him a look, signaling him not to talk, "I mean, that’s not what Jun Ze meant. He has just returned from abroad and isn’t quite accustomed to the local ways here. Please don’t hold it against him."