The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 234. Chasing in the Rainy Night 1 (First Update)

Chapter 234: 234. Chasing in the Rainy Night 1 (First Update)

Shen Junyu carried Wen Xiyao all the way home. Her family had a maid, so Shen Junyu wasn’t worried about her daily needs. Before leaving, he still didn’t forget to remind her, "Your wound can’t come into contact with water. Remember to change the dressing tomorrow morning."

Wen Xiyao obediently nodded her head, "Got it. Drive safely when you head back tonight."

The accident at Xinhe International made the news the next day, which had a terrible impact. Online comments about Xinhe International were overwhelmingly negative, and Wen Xiyao’s face turned ugly as she browsed the news on her phone.

"These internet trolls really have nothing better to do, just criticizing this and that all day long. Have they even understood the truth of the situation?" Wen Xiyao put down her phone and said discontentedly.

Shen Junyu placed a peeled egg onto her plate, "You already called them trolls. Why bother with those things? Hurry up and eat."

He had hurried over early that morning, and Wen Xiyao was surprised but happy to see Shen Junyu when she woke up.

"Are we going to the hospital after breakfast?" asked Shen Junyu.

Wen Xiyao nodded, "No matter how it happened, a person has died. I can’t just ignore it. Moreover, the company’s image has taken a huge hit. Most importantly, with this incident being publicized, even if this place is built, I doubt anyone would buy here. The shareholders probably have no idea what’s waiting for me."

Thinking about these issues gave Wen Xiyao a headache because she was a parachuted executive, and those shareholders were just waiting to find faults to kick her out.

"Don’t think too much now; finish your breakfast. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Starving yourself won’t help at all."

Wen Xiyao thought about it and took a sip of milk before quietly finishing her breakfast.

Shen Junyu drove Wen Xiyao to work. Her foot injury prevented her from driving. Though a driver could have taken her, Shen Junyu was still worried.

Shen Qinglan found out about the incident from the news and called Shen Junyu. Upon learning about Wen Xiyao’s injury, he immediately drove to find her.

Wen Xiyao was still in the meeting room and had just arrived at the company when she was greeted by the waiting shareholders. An emergency board meeting had been called, and those old fellows spent the whole time accusing her of negligence, not without hints of wanting her removed.

"A woman is unsuited for this job; look what happens when you put a woman in charge," said a small-time shareholder named Chairman Qian, who was as stingy and greedy as his surname suggested. But as soon as he finished speaking, he realized that the current chairman was also a woman, sitting at the head of the table. He chuckled awkwardly and dared not meet Chairman Dong Xinhe’s eyes.

"She’s too young, too unreliable," said a shareholder named Chairman Wang.

Wen Xiyao sat there, observing the shareholders chastise her in silence, not uttering a word.

Xinhe International’s Chairman, Dong Xinhe, had no expression on her face. After all the shareholders had their say, she looked at Wen Xiyao, "Xi Yao, what do you have to say about this?"

Wen Xiyao glanced at the shareholders present, "Chairman, I admit there were lapses on my part, but the primary cause was that the worker didn’t follow safety protocols. The main responsibility doesn’t lie with us. My opinion is to handle this by legal means and proceed accordingly."

"What you say sounds simple, handling it legally, but it has already ignited public outrage. People are pointing fingers at us. As soon as the news came out this morning, the company’s stock price fell. What we need to do now is soothe public sentiment and restore the company’s image," said Chairman Wang.

"So, according to Chairman Wang, are we just admitting guilt? What will people outside think if we do? They might think we are guilty and responsible for a death," Wen Xiyao said calmly.

"The situation has already escalated to this point; pacifying public anger is the priority now. Otherwise, do we even care about the company’s image anymore? Due to this incident, the value of Site 3 is no longer the prime spot it once was; billions of investments might go down the drain. Can you afford this loss?" Chairman Qian morosely added, always bringing up money in every third sentence.

Wen Xiyao debated in the conference room with them, sticking to her stance and refusing to back down, and finally, Chairman Dong Xinhe spoke up and decided to handle the situation according to Wen Xiyao’s suggestion, temporarily settling the matter.

"Chairman, I’m truly sorry for this incident. It was due to my oversight," said Wen Xiyao apologetically in Chairman Dong Xinhe’s office.

Dong Xinhe waved her hand, "Don’t blame yourself; I’ve looked into the matter. You did what was right. In some things, we have to compromise, but in others, we absolutely must not give in, or people will think Xinhe International is easy to bully."

Dong Xinhe had always been a tough character when she was young; decisive in her actions, she could not have built such a big company from scratch otherwise. Initially, she took a liking to Wen Xiyao and had invited her to the company many times, not just for her capabilities but also because her temperament reminded Dong Xinhe of her younger self.

Wen Xiyao nodded. "Don’t worry, Chairman, I will definitely resolve this matter smoothly, but..." she hesitated for a moment, "but the worker has died, and he has an unemployed wife and a two-year-old child at home. Out of humanity, could we perhaps offer his family a more generous compensation?"

Dong Xinhe gave a slight smile. "Since I’ve entrusted this matter to you, I trust you. Just go ahead and handle it; you need not take to heart what those old folks at the board say."

"Thank you, Chairman." Being trusted by her leader comforted Wen Xiyao, especially since she had been facing criticism from those old men early in the morning.

Upon leaving the Chairman’s office, Wen Xiyao felt markedly better. Seeing Shen Qinglan waiting outside, she showed a hint of surprise, "Qinglan, what brings you here?"

"Just came to see you," Shen Qinglan said, glancing at her bandaged hand. "How’s the injury?"

"It’s nothing serious, just a minor scrape."

Shen Qinglan handed her a tube of ointment. "My brother asked me to bring this to you. It’s quite effective; give it a try."

Wen Xiyao raised an eyebrow. She had seen Shen Junyu that morning; why didn’t he give it to her then? After a moment’s thought, she understood and accepted it with a smile, "Please thank your brother for me," she emphasized the last two words.

Shen Qinglan replied with a faint smile, "No need to thank me."

Knowing she was bustling with tasks, Shen Qinglan did not stay long, even declining Wen Xiyao’s invitation for lunch.

After leaving Xinhe International, Shen Qinglan took a trip to the antique street. She first bought a gift for Old Sir Fu as his birthday was coming up in a week. The family had wanted to celebrate it for him, but Old Sir Fu had declined. No birthday celebration, but a gift was still necessary.

While looking at an antique, Shen Qinglan suddenly felt someone watching her. She quickly turned around but did not see anyone suspicious. Yet, she was certain that someone had been watching her.

After another glance and still seeing no one suspicious, Shen Qinglan withdrew her gaze and continued examining the antique in her hand.

In a distant corner, Xu Nuo leaned against the wall, a smile curling up at the corner of her mouth. To her, Shen Qinglan had proven to be even more observant than expected; she had barely looked at her and had already been noticed.

As Shen Qinglan left the antique shop with a delicately wrapped box, she chose a direction and occasionally stopped to look into the shops along the street, walking and stopping intermittently.

The antique street was close to the old quadrangle area to the south of the city. The alleys crisscrossed tightly, and Shen Qinglan’s teahouse was nearby. She turned the corner and went into a nearby alley.

A faint sound of footsteps followed behind; if not for her sharp hearing, she might not have noticed them. Shen Qinglan deliberately slowed down, and the footsteps behind her also decreased their pace. The corner of Shen Qinglan’s mouth slightly lifted, and she continued towards her family’s teahouse.

At the next turn, Shen Qinglan suddenly spun around, coming face-to-face with her follower, "Long time no see."

Xu Nuo hadn’t expected to be uncovered so suddenly; since she’d been discovered, she no longer intended to hide and stood there openly, allowing Shen Qinglan to size her up. "Indeed, Miss Shen, it has been a long time."

A faint smile tugged at Shen Qinglan’s cool face, very shallow. "We’ve met twice, yet I still don’t know how to address you?"

"Xu Nuo, ’Xu’ as in many, ’Nuo’ as in promise," Xu Nuo said, returning the smile, her gaze on Shen Qinglan as though viewing an old friend.

"My teahouse is nearby. Since we’ve met here, why not sit for a while at my teahouse?" Shen Qinglan extended the invitation.

"Sounds good," Xu Nuo agreed smoothly.

Entering the teahouse, Xu Nuo took in the surroundings briefly; it was indeed a serene place. Instead of taking Xu Nuo to a tea room, Shen Qinglan brought her to a private room she used here.

"What would Miss Xu like to drink?"

"Any is fine, I’m not well-versed in tea arts; all tea is the same to me," Xu Nuo said as she sat down opposite Shen Qinglan.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan directly took out a can of Longjing Tea from the cabinet and began to brew it methodically. Xu Nuo watched her elegant movements, a glint flashing in her eyes.

"Miss Shen is not only good at painting, but also proficient in making tea," Xu Nuo praised.

Shen Qinglan’s red lips slightly parted, "Your painting skills are also remarkable."

A cup of clear tea was placed in front of Xu Nuo. She picked it up, took a sip, and then set it down; she truly did not understand tea.

The unexpected happened in an instant. Xu Nuo had not anticipated that Shen Qinglan would suddenly make a move, and her first move was lethal. Xu Nuo could only instinctively dodge; she didn’t even have a chance to counterattack. Within minutes, Xu Nuo was subdued by Shen Qinglan.

Holding Xu Nuo’s hands behind her back, Shen Qinglan yanked at Xu Nuo’s clothing, pulling it aside, exposing her right shoulder. There, indeed, was a dark red tattoo similar to one Shen Qinglan had seen before. Shen Qinglan’s eyes darkened, "Who are you, really?"

Xu Nuo, held captive, showed no panic on her face but gained a new respect for Shen Qinglan’s abilities. This woman was strong, stronger than she had anticipated. Despite Xu Nuo’s best efforts, she couldn’t withstand many moves against Shen Qinglan. Although there was an element of surprise in Shen Qinglan’s attack, the fact that Xu Nuo was overpowered was undeniable.

"I don’t know what Miss Shen is talking about. Rather, I’d like to know why Miss Shen suddenly attacked and pulled at my clothes. Does Miss Shen have some unique hobbies?" Xu Nuo said with a light laugh, her tone mocking.

A flicker of light passed through Shen Qinglan’s eyes as she released Xu Nuo, "It seems Allen really is incompetent if these are the kinds of people he trains."

Hearing the name ’Allen’ suddenly from Shen Qinglan’s mouth, Xu Nuo’s expression shifted slightly, swiftly regaining composure. However, Shen Qinglan, who had been watching her closely, clearly caught the change in her expression. Her heart sank; Allen was indeed still alive.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who’s Allen? I don’t know him," Xu Nuo quickly denied.

"Tell Allen not to show up in front of me, or I won’t mind repeating what I did before," Shen Qinglan’s expression turned cold.

A flicker of anger passed through Xu Nuo’s eyes, but her face remained smiling, "Miss Shen, we will meet again."

Shen Qinglan watched Xu Nuo as she walked away, her face growing colder. She had suspected that Allen might still be out there, but confirming it still filled her heart with heavy gloom.

After leaving the tea house, Xu Nuo found a secluded spot to call Allen. As soon as the connection was made, Allen’s hoarse, unpleasant voice came through, "Have you been discovered?"

Xu Nuo’s face stiffened. Even though she couldn’t see Allen, her body involuntarily tensed, "Yes, I’m sorry."

She had expected Allen to be angry, but to her surprise, he laughed instead, "It’s better to find out sooner. There’s not much time left. I should be on my way."

"Master, are you coming to Beijing?"

"Mmm, the little wild cat has been let loose for too long; if I don’t retrieve her soon, she might really turn feral."

Xu Nuo’s eyes were heavy, her emotions unreadable.

"Before I arrive, don’t make any rash moves, especially not against Shen Qinglan. But the person staying in her house, you could pay a visit," Allen instructed.

"Yes, Master."

After hanging up, Allen looked out at the blooming flowers outside the window, his smile tender, "Xiaoqi, you’re still so clever, such a good child. We’ll meet soon, will you be happy?" Thinking of Jin Enxi and the others around Shen Qinglan, the smile on Allen’s lips deepened. The banquet was about to begin.

When Peter came in and saw Allen’s tenderly smiling face, he rubbed his arms where the goosebumps would have risen, "Allen, what’s the good news today? You seem in high spirits."

Allen suppressed the smile on his face and coldly glanced at Peter, "A week from now I’ll be heading to country Z."

"Alright, no problem, but you still can’t walk for long periods, so I’ll go with you," Peter agreed readily. After all, even if he didn’t agree, this man would still go; he could never change Allen’s mind.

Allen didn’t object. "Will I be able to stand before June?"

"Yes, as long as you finish the last dose of medicine, you can stand. But Allen, don’t blame me for not warning you. From now on, your legs will have sequelae, and if you get hurt again, you’ll never be able to stand for the rest of your life. Moreover, every rainy and cloudy day, you’ll experience unbearable pain, akin to having your heart gouged out."

Allen had heard these words many times before and had even tasted such pain. His expression unchanged, he said, "As long as it lets me stand up, that’s all that matters."

Peter shrugged, knew it would come to this, and decided he wouldn’t mention it again in the future. This was the last time.

**

In the afternoon, it began to rain. What started as a drizzle soon turned into a downpour. Jin Enxi cursed under her breath, "SHIT," then tragically discovered she was trapped in the library. She rarely considered visiting the university library, but today’s timing had been unfortunate.

"Hey, can I share your umbrella?" Jin Enxi saw a male student about to leave with an umbrella in his hand and walked over to him with a smile.

The male student saw Jin Enxi, his face flushing slightly, and nodded, "Okay, okay, where are you headed?"

"Just take me to the school’s parking lot."

It was not far from here, about a five-minute walk. The male student held the umbrella over Jin Enxi’s head, "Let’s go, senior."

Most of the umbrella covered Jin Enxi’s head. Fortunately, the umbrella was large enough; otherwise, this method of holding it would have left the male student drenched like a wet chicken.

"Are you a freshman?" Jin Enxi glanced sideways at the male student’s blushing face, feeling a bit chatty. It was rare to find such innocent boys these days.

The male student nodded awkwardly. Jin Enxi wore a light perfume that day, and though faint, its scent drifted to the male student’s nose, making the warmth on his face rise further.

"What’s your major?"

"Computer Science."

"Oh, a direct junior then," Jin Enxi smiled. "I’m also from the Computer Science department, but I’m a graduate student." By the time they reached the parking lot, Jin Enxi opened her car door and got in, "Thanks for today, junior. Next time we meet, I’ll buy you a meal."

The male student stepped back a few paces, watching the back of Jin Enxi’s departing car in a daze. Through her rearview mirror, Jin Enxi saw his lovestruck expression and whistled.

Leaving the university, Jin Enxi didn’t head back to Shangya Garden but instead drove towards the outskirts of the city. She needed to pick up something from Eden that she had accidentally left there last time.

The rain was heavy, and Jin Enxi didn’t drive fast. She turned on the sound system, and soon the car was filled with the blast of rock music. Jin Enxi swayed slightly with the music.

Unbeknownst to her, a car had followed her from behind. Jin Enxi didn’t pay it much mind until the car slowly got closer, causing her to frown slightly, just thinking about the driver’s poor skills when she turned the steering wheel to increase the distance between the two vehicles. Unexpectedly, the other car closed in again.

"SHIT," Jin Enxi cursed, "Must be a drunk driver."

Speeding up, she saw that the car didn’t follow closely anymore. Just when she stopped paying attention, that car suddenly crashed into hers. The sudden impact jolted Jin Enxi’s body forward, her forehead slamming hard against the steering wheel. Her complexion changed as she lowered the window, "Can’t you drive, are you blind?"

The window of the other car rolled down, revealing Xu Nuo’s face in Jin Enxi’s field of vision, with Xu Nuo holding a pistol in his hand. At that moment, the dark muzzle of the gun was aimed right at Jin Enxi’s head.