The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 224. Li Xitong, you are courting death

Chapter 224: 224. Li Xitong, you are courting death

Shen Rang’s face showed fatigue, and he was no longer young. After all the recent struggles, he too felt completely drained.

"Yaqin, you take Jun Ze and head back first," he said, wiping his face.

Lu Yaqin didn’t want to leave, but she knew that her presence wasn’t welcome by others in the room. With sadness in her eyes and a glance at the silent Shen Junyu, she nodded, "Alright, I’ll take Jun Ze back first. If Old Sir Shen wakes up, give me a call."

Shen Rang waved his hand and said nothing.

Lu Yaqin, pulling the attempting-to-speak Shen Junze, left the hospital.

"Jun Yu, this incident is Jun Ze’s fault, and mine too. I didn’t teach him well," Shen Rang said exhaustedly, unable to imagine what he would do if Old Sir Shen didn’t pull through this time.

Shen Junyu’s expression was indifferent, but his eyes were filled with coldness, "Second Uncle, you should leave too. If Grandpa wakes up and sees you here, he will be displeased."

Shen Rang’s expression stiffened, "I won’t go in; I’ll just wait outside. Once your grandpa wakes up, I’ll leave."

Shen Junyu no longer looked at him and walked into the sickroom. Seeing Shen Qinglan, Shen Junyu spoke softly, "Lanlan, you go rest for a while. I’m here, and I’ll call you the moment Grandpa wakes up."

Shen Qinglan shook her head silently.

Knowing this would be the case, Shen Junyu no longer insisted. He sat down beside her and watched over Old Sir Shen, paying no further heed to the person outside. He had already called Shen Qian.

Shen Qian hurried to the hospital and went first to see the attending doctor in his office to understand Old Sir Shen’s condition before heading to the sickroom. Upon seeing that familiar figure outside the room, Shen Qian’s first reaction was not joy but anger.

A pair of military boots stopped in front of him, and Shen Rang looked up to see Shen Qian, "Big Brother."

"Shen Rang, come with me," Shen Qian said sternly. Shen Rang rose and followed behind Shen Qian.

In a secluded corner of the hospital garden, Shen Qian stared steadfastly at this younger brother he hadn’t seen in over twenty years.

"Big Brother," Shen Rang began, his voice hoarse.

"You’ve finally come back!" Shen Qian said, his tone calm, but such calmness gave Shen Rang a jolt. He would have preferred Shen Qian to scold him.

"Big Brother, I’m sorry," Shen Rang said in a low voice.

"The person you owe an apology to isn’t me."

Shen Rang fell silent. Yes, the person he most owed an apology to was actually their deceased mother. As the youngest son of the Shen family, Granny Shen had always doted on him, and he indeed did well in all aspects, carrying the high hopes of the elderly. But how had he repaid their kindness?

He never regretted being with Lu Yaqin; his only regret was not taking good care of his parents, even missing his mother’s last moments. If he had paid a bit more attention to the news from the Shen family, he wouldn’t have such regrets now.

"Big Brother, it was my fault. I was too selfish and disappointed you all," Shen Rang couldn’t defend his actions, nor was it in his nature to do so.

Shen Qian looked at his younger brother, whom he hadn’t seen for over twenty years. His heart didn’t feel as indifferent as he appeared. The brothers had always been close since they were kids, and even though his brother was more talented, Shen Qian had never felt jealous.

This younger brother was their parents’ pride, and Shen Qian’s pride as well. However, one day, this brother brought home a woman, announcing he wanted to marry her, despite having an arranged marriage at that time.

Old Sir Shen and Granny Shen disagreed, especially after they found out that the woman Shen Rang had fallen for had once worked as a bar hostess. Although she had never been involved with other men, given the Shen family’s background, it was absolutely unacceptable for her to be a daughter-in-law, despite the lack of concern for social status in Old Sir Shen and Granny Shen.

Opposition was natural, but Shen Rang, ever stubborn, was set on being with this woman, even going to his fiancée’s home to break off the engagement, which infuriated her parents and led them to threaten to sever ties with the Shen family. Old Sir Shen, who had always valued his dignity, was forced to apologize for his youngest son’s actions, facing severe humiliation.

And what had Shen Rang done at that time? He left the Shen family and ran away with the hostess, turning the Shen family into a laughingstock in Beijing. Old Sir Shen even fell severely ill because of this.

Snapping back from his memories, Shen Qian looked at Shen Rang with cold eyes, "If you had already left, why come back?"

"Big Brother, I just wanted to come back to see Dad and Mom," Shen Rang explained dryly. Although he had been abroad for many years, his heart was filled daily with thoughts of his family back home. If only he had known earlier, he would have returned sooner...

Shen Rang’s face was filled with sadness.

"What’s the point of saying these things now? Dad is still in the hospital, you should go back first." Shen Qian spoke, his tone cold.

Shen Rang looked at Shen Qian’s profile, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. He turned around and left, his back slightly bent, looking very desolate.

Shen Qian watched Shen Rang deeply and then turned to go to Old Sir Shen’s primary doctor’s office; he needed to discuss the subsequent treatment plans with the doctor.

The next day, the Shen Rang family of three came again. It wasn’t clear what Shen Rang and Lu Yaqin had told Shen Junze after they went home, but Shen Junze was very well-behaved this time, even calling Qinglan "cousin."

Qinglan glanced at him but did not respond. Shen Junze kept his head down, seemingly in a poor mood, not even caring about Qinglan’s attitude.

Shen Junyu hadn’t arrived yet; he had gone home to get a change of clothes.

"Qinglan, how is your grandfather doing?" Shen Rang asked gently.

"The situation is very stable." Qinglan uttered a few words, her tone distant and indifferent. Shen Rang didn’t mind at all, his gaze falling on Old Sir Shen, his eyes filled with a sadness others couldn’t understand.

Lu Yaqin’s complexion was also very poor, her eyes red, her expression haggard. Qinglan was somewhat curious about what these three had gone through after going back, as they appeared like this today.

Not long after Shen Rang and the others arrived, Shen Junyu came, accompanied by Wen Xiyao.

"Sister Xiyao, what brings you here?" Qinglan was somewhat surprised to see Wen Xiyao.

Wen Xiyao glanced at Shen Junyu. "I called Jun Yu today and found out your grandfather was hospitalized, so I came along with him. How is he doing?"

"He’s alright. Although the doctor says there’s no sign of improvement, there’s no worsening either; the situation is very stable," Qinglan said.

"Second Uncle," Shen Junyu called out but ignored Lu Yaqin and Shen Junze.

Shen Rang nodded and smiled at Shen Junyu, but his eyes turned towards Wen Xiyao.

"This is my girlfriend, Wen Xiyao. This is my Second Uncle." Shen Junyu introduced, mentioning nothing about Lu Yaqin and her son. Wen Xiyao greeted Shen Rang, seeing that Shen Junyu had no intention of introducing the other two, she merely nodded kindly at Lu Yaqin and Shen Junze and did not speak further.

"By the way, Qinglan, these are some clothes and toiletries for you; go freshen up." Wen Xiyao remembered the bag in her hand and handed it to Qinglan.

Qinglan took it, thanked her, and walked into the hospital room’s private bathroom.

"Grandpa needs to rest quietly. Second Uncle, if there’s nothing else, you can leave for now," Shen Junyu said.

Lu Yaqin glanced at her husband, whose expression was forlorn, thought for a moment, and finally spoke, "Junyu, your Second Uncle is very worried about your grandpa; he couldn’t sleep all night. Let him stay here with your grandpa for a while. If you don’t want to see Jun Ze and me, we will leave right now."

Shen Junze unhappily called out, "Mom," but stopped at a look from Lu Yaqin. He glanced at his father, squeezed his hand, "Dad, I’ll wait with mom in the car."

Shen Rang looked at his wife, his eyes brimming with apology. Lu Yaqin smiled reassuringly at him, signaling she was okay, and took Shen Junze out of the ward.

"Mom, dad’s like that, why do we keep giving in? This isn’t just a mistake on your and dad’s part," Shen Junze complained as they walked out of the ward.

Lu Yaqin’s eyes reddened, and she spoke softly, "You know your dad’s condition, so don’t speak of it anymore. Granny’s passing was already a huge blow to your father, and now grandpa is like this; just say less."

"Mom, if I had known it would turn out like this, I definitely wouldn’t have spoken like that yesterday," Shen Junze lowered his head, recalling the sight of his father sitting in the living room in the middle of the night, silently crying while smoking a cigarette, and he felt an infinite regret for his rashness yesterday.

In his eyes, Shen Rang had always been outstanding and imposing, shouldering the family with his own strength. For Shen Junze, Shen Rang was like a mountain, the pillar of the home, a synonym for strength, but the vulnerable father from last night made his heart ache.

He saw his father weeping in the living room, and his mother standing by the door, silently crying as she watched his father’s back, her eyes filled with sadness and despair.

Shen Junze had been spoiled by Lu Yaqin, thus having a temper, being impulsive, and easily angered, but his nature wasn’t bad. Actually, ever since he saw Old Sir Shen collapse, he’d been scared and knew he was wrong but was too stubborn to admit it, still speaking defiantly.

"Mom, do you think Grandpa will be okay? If something really happens to Grandpa, will Dad never forgive himself?" Shen Junze asked in a low voice to Lu Yaqin.

Lu Yaqin looked at her son, wanting to smile but couldn’t. She tugged the corner of her mouth, comforting her son, "No, your grandpa will be fine. Grandpa is the famous General Shen who once fought on the battlefield, a hero who protected our country. He won’t go down easily."

In her heart, she silently prayed that Old Sir Shen would be all right. Otherwise, she didn’t know how long her husband’s health would last. It was only yesterday that she found out Shen Rang’s health had been in serious trouble while he was abroad; he was diagnosed with mid-stage liver cancer six months ago.

Although it was detected relatively timely, the treatment wasn’t very effective. The doctors suggested surgery, but Shen Rang didn’t want them to worry and refused. Three months ago, the cancer cells metastasized and even spread rapidly, leaving the doctors helpless and estimating at most six months left. That’s why Shen Rang insisted on returning to Beijing this time to see the elderly Shen couple, but unexpected issues occurred.

"Mom, if I had known earlier, I definitely wouldn’t have said those things," Shen Junze stressed.

"Mom knows, but Junze, you are eighteen now, you’re an adult. You can’t act so recklessly anymore. Actually, it’s also my fault for not raising you well."

These words made Shen Junze even more upset and self-blaming. "Mom, don’t worry. Once Grandpa wakes up, I’ll apologize to him properly, and I won’t make him upset ever again."

Lu Yaqin smiled comfortingly but her eyes, which Shen Junze did not see, were filled with a dense, unresolvable sadness.

Meanwhile, Lu Yaqin and her son didn’t notice that their conversation was overheard by someone in a black dress. After the mother and son walked away, Li Xitong turned towards the direction from which the mother and son came, and just saw Shen Junyu coming this way. She quickly looked around and ducked into a nearby hospital room.

Only after Shen Junyu had walked a good distance did she come out of the hospital room. Remembering Shen Junyu’s appearance and relating it to the conversation she just heard, Li Xitong’s heart began to form a guess.

She took out a pair of sunglasses from her bag, put them on covering most of her face, and headed towards the nurses’ station, "Hello, I am looking for the room where Old Sir Shen, Shen Yuanyi is staying." Shen Yuanyi is Old Sir Shen’s name.

The nurse at the station sized her up with suspicion, "You are?"

Li Xitong smiled slightly, "I’m the granddaughter of an old friend of Old Sir Shen. My grandfather heard that Old Sir Shen was sick and specifically asked me to come and see him." She raised the fruit basket in her hand for the nurse to see clearly. She had come to the hospital to visit a friend today and had bought a fruit basket at the hospital entrance without expecting it would come in handy. Li Xitong couldn’t help feeling fortunate about her luck.

The nurse smiled, flipped through the records, "Old Sir Shen is in room B102, but it’s not visiting hours right now, so you can’t go in yet."

"May I ask what illness Old Sir Shen has?" Li Xitong asked, "My grandfather just received the news that Old Sir Shen was sick, but he doesn’t know what illness it is, and I’ve rushed over..."

The nurse smiled understandingly, "I’m sorry, miss, that’s private information we cannot disclose. If you want to visit Old Sir Shen, you can register here now, and you can go in when visiting hours start."

Li Xitong shook her head, "Thank you, I’ll come back later then, and also go buy some flowers. Just bringing a fruit basket seems too unthoughtful."

The nurse did not mind; she understood that wealthy people had many rules.

"Qinglan, you haven’t slept all night, you should rest for a bit, I am here." Wen Xiyao spoke softly, but Shen Qinglan shook her head, "I’m not tired, Sister Xiyao, if you have things to take care of, please go ahead, I can be here by myself."

"I don’t have anything urgent, the company won’t collapse without me for one day, I’ll stay here with you," Wen Xiyao smiled.

Shen Qinglan did not insist further, glanced at Shen Rang who sat silently by Old Sir Shen’s bed, thought for a moment then she and Wen Xiyao settled on a couch in the outer room.

Shen Junyu had gone down to buy lunch, carrying it up and calling Wen Xiyao and others to eat.

"Second Uncle, let’s eat first," Shen Junyu said. Although he was upset with how his second uncle and his family had stressed Grandpa into hospitalization, this uncle had been very affectionate toward him during his childhood, even more so than Shen Qian, his own father, with whom Shen Junyu had a very close relationship as a child.

Shen Rang shook his head, his eyes heavy with dark circles, "I’m not hungry, you guys go ahead." He just couldn’t stomach anything right now.

Shen Junyu did not insist, setting aside Shen Rang’s portion and letting Shen Qinglan and Wen Xiyao eat.

Shen Qinglan had little appetite, barely managing two bites before laying down her chopsticks.

Shen Junyu frowned at the mostly uneaten food in her bowl, "Lanlan, eat a bit more; you didn’t eat last night." Shen Qinglan shook her head, "I’m full."

"Let it be if Qinglan can’t eat," Wen Xiyao interrupted Shen Junyu, understanding Shen Qinglan’s current state all too well as she had experienced similar situations herself.

In the afternoon, Shen Junyu was called away by some phone. Shen Qian came to visit Old Sir Shen and took Shen Rang away after talking something unknown; Shen Rang left, and after tending to Old Sir Shen, Shen Qian left the room.

At dusk, Shen Junyu had intended to take over for Shen Qinglan, but due to a sudden matter, he really couldn’t leave, so Wen Xiyao stayed to keep her company.

"Sister Xiyao, you can go back first. I can manage Grandpa’s situation by myself," said Qinglan. Having been up just one night was nothing to her.

Wen Xiyao stayed until nine o’clock in the evening before leaving. Only one family member was allowed to stay for the night, and Wen Xiyao, unable to overcome Qinglan’s stubbornness, had to leave.

Shen Qinglan stayed to care for Old Sir Shen. Around nine-thirty, she received a call from Fu Hengyi, which she hadn’t informed him about Old Sir Shen’s hospitalization.

Recently, there had been many issues in the family. If it wasn’t Chu Yunrong being hospitalized, it was Old Sir Fu, and now Old Sir Shen was hospitalized and was even having issues with the hospital.

Although Old Sir Shen was still in a comatose state, and making a call wouldn’t disturb him, Shen Qinglan still didn’t want to disrupt Old Sir Shen’s peace. She stepped out of the ward and signaled to the nurse at the nurse station.

Li Xitong left the nurse station, first went to visit a friend, sat in the friend’s ward for a while, and then left the hospital. Yet, just a few hours later, she returned to the hospital in a different guise, wearing a wig, a hat, and large sunglasses.

She took the elevator to the floor where Old Sir Shen’s ward was located, paused at the elevator doors when she saw no nurse from the nurse station, felt relieved, and hurried to the door of Old Sir Shen’s ward. She peered inside, saw no one, and boldly opened the door.

Surprisingly, there was no one inside. Li Xitong couldn’t help but laugh.

Her high heels clacked crisply on the hospital room floor as she stood by the bedside, looking at the unconscious Old Sir Shen, her lips curling up. She took off her sunglasses.

"I never thought you’d have a day like this," she said softly, then sat down. "Seeing you lying here actually makes me feel happy. Grandpa, are you happy to see me?"

No one answered her, and she didn’t need anyone’s response, continuing to speak.

"Grandpa, I am truly grateful that you adopted me back then, gave me a home, allowed me to feel the warmth of a family, and spared me from being bullied by others. I was once so genuinely joyful that I could become a member of this family. But soon I realized that you actually didn’t like me. You and Granny never liked me from the start.

Though you appeared kind, I just knew that the way you looked at me was not the way one looks at a granddaughter. You regarded me merely as an outsider. You kept saying I was the daughter of the Shen Family, your granddaughter, yet I couldn’t even enter Shen Qinglan’s room.

Do you still remember, when I first came to this home, one day out of curiosity, I secretly entered Shen Qinglan’s room? Before then, I always thought my room was beautiful, but only after seeing her room did I realize that, that was what a true granddaughter of the Shen Family’s room looked like."

I really liked that room, especially the doll on the desk, but as soon as I touched the doll, you appeared and just stood there, coldly looking at me, and told me never to enter that room again because it wasn’t my place and the items inside were not for me to touch.

You wouldn’t know how heartbroken I was at that moment. I knew whose room it was, and I knew that the room’s owner was no longer around. Yet, even for such an unclaimed room, I didn’t have the right to even take a look.

Granny Shen was outwardly kind to me, but that kindness felt more like the affection shown to a younger family member, not the love for a granddaughter. I often saw Granny Shen entering that room and staying for hours on end. Do you know how jealous I was of Shen Qinglan? Jealous that even though she wasn’t present, the family always kept her in their thoughts, never forgetting her. Such jealousy once almost drove me insane.

My girlhood was spent in such jealousy. When I grew up and realized that Shen Qinglan might never return, she came back, and you all treated her like a treasure, displaying your affection for her unreservedly, without ever considering my feelings.

Shen Qinglan returned and effortlessly obtained everything I had ever dreamt of: that room, your love, and the man I loved."

Li Xitong’s eyes reddened, and she clenched her fists. "That was the man I had loved for over a decade, yet she easily stole him away. I could tolerate your favoritism towards her, her disregard for me, but I could not tolerate her stealing my love. That was the only person I ever loved truly. My unreachable star.

I plotted against Shen Qinglan, but can you blame me? If she hadn’t stolen my most precious possession, despite my jealousy, I wouldn’t have really done anything to her, but she should never have taken Fu Hengyi away."

Li Xitong’s expression was ferocious, her eyes filled with immense hatred.

"Grandfather, everyone says a true heart wins a true heart, but when I offered you all of my sincerity, why couldn’t you love me like you love Shen Qinglan? Is it just because I’m not your biological granddaughter? Why couldn’t you treat me fairly? Even my mother, who has loved me for so many years, chose to save Shen Qinglan first when faced with danger. All that talk about favoritism is false, everything is a lie. Shen Qinglan has always been your favorite, and what am I? I am merely a substitute for her," Li Xitong said bitterly, tears suddenly falling, dripping onto the bedsheets.

"I merely longed for a bit of love, yet you even begrudged me that. Grandfather, do you know what kind of life I’m leading now? I am infamous because of Shen Qinglan and nearly became a street rat. My biological parents are like vampires; in their eyes, I am nothing more than an ATM.

Yet you handed me over to them and even abandoned me when I needed your help the most, leaving me to fend for myself. I had to butter up a playboy, all thanks to you. If you had shown me just a little bit of sympathy, I wouldn’t have come to such a pass. Since that’s the case, why should I cherish any affection for you?"

Li Xitong’s eyes showed a ruthless determination as she looked at Old Sir Shen wearing an oxygen mask, extending her hand.

Her hand hovered in mid-air, shaking slightly with an internal struggle. Hardening her expression, she quickly removed Old Sir Shen’s oxygen mask and tore off the IV line from his arm, watching the blood drip profusely from the back of his hand. Li Xitong laughed maniacally.

"Li Xitong, you’re seeking death." A furious voice came from behind. Li Xitong instinctively turned, and before she could see who it was, she was kicked to the ground. The kick landed hard on her abdomen, knocking the wind out of her and leaving her breathless on the floor, unable to even cough.